Sole Cent. Ind. Saab dealer pulls plug

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - General Motors’ restructuring plan will leave Central Indiana without a Saab dealership. The owner closed his two dealerships because of an uncertain future.

A year ago, Bob Falcone's staff had sold 100 cars by May at his two Saab dealerships in Indianapolis and Fishers.

"This year, with all the announcements from General Motors, we are down to 31 cars through the end of April," said Falcone.

He said he decided to be proactive and close the only Saab dealerships in Central Indiana.

"My destiny was in General Motors' hands and what decisions they are going to make with the Saab brand. I couldn't get a response out of them that was satisfactory for me to plan my business," he said.

General Motors plans to shut down or sell Saab as part of their restructuring deal.

"I had no choice but to terminate in advance so that I could protect myself, remove the liability of my new car inventory but maintain my profitability of my Saab service," said Falcone.

He had four million dollars worth of inventory on his lots. He's reduced that amount by half and will give back two million dollars worth to General Motors next week.

In the meantime, Falcone is staying in the car business. He opened a Volkswagen and Subaru dealership with a Saab service station and moved each of his 45 employees to the new location.

Falcone said he isn't nervous about starting a dealership in these uncertain times.

"Subaru being the only brand that had an increase in 2007 and 2008 and Volkswagen with the least amount of decline," he said.

He said if Saab is able to re-establish itself in the United States, he would be the first one to sell the cars at his service station.