Local Chrysler to remain open; service department credited
June 8, 2009
ECO Staff – Laure Cioffi, senior journalist
ELLWOOD CITY – When Chrysler announced it was closing nearly 800 dealerships across the country, the telephone at Kasing Auto Sales on Lawrence Avenue rang off the hook.
Company president Louis Kasing said his loyal customers were calling to see if the dealership would make the cut.
“The phone calls have been extremely encouraging for us,” Kasing said.
The dealership did survive the cuts and intends to continue selling Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products in the dealership that has been owned by the Kasing family since 1967.
Chrysler announced last month that it was closing 789 of its 3,200 dealerships as part of a restructuring plan after declaring bankruptcy. Pennsylvania lost the most dealerships of any state with 53 slated for closure.
Kasing said he’s unsure what criteria was used by Chrysler when deciding which dealerships would remain and which would close, but he credits his survival to Kasing’s service department.
“We have one of the most efficient service departments in western Pennsylvania,” he said. “We have done a heck of a job. In fact, we spoil our customers.”
Kasing said he’s got plenty of loyal customers who travel far distances to use his service department. He said was his many customers in the Ellwood City area that inspired him to move the dealership from Harmony to Ellwood City last year.
He believes the move to Ellwood City has helped revitalize the west end of Lawrence Avenue. He said since his dealership moved in, several other businesses in the area have been spruced up.
“I am just so proud for us to be associated with Ellwood City,” he said.
(Laure Cioffi can be reached at LaureCioffi@EllwoodCity.org)
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