Owner keeping GM dealership

Murray Elliott has been running a General Motors dealership in Davenport for 33 years. He almost didn’t make it to 34.

After several months of negotiation, Elliott learned GM has agreed to keep him as an approved dealer. Last year the Detroit manufacturer placed his company and thousands of other dealers on the phase-out list in order to cut costs. Those who can’t change the carmaker’s mind will lose GM privileges in October.

Elliott said he went through about four months of negotiation to stay in business, conducted over the phone. Just last week Elliott Motors signed a new deal as an approved GM dealer.

A key factor in keeping him in business, Elliott said, were statements of support and encouragement by area customers and by officials from nearby cities and from Lincoln County.

Elliott Motors will continue to have yearly sales quotas in order to stay in business, Elliott said. It will sell GMC and Chevrolet vehicles. One other dealership facing closure, Camp Chevrolet Cadillac of Spokane, also negotiated a new contract with General Motors earlier this year.