GM completes dealer arbitration, to reinstate 725 as final dealership network totals 4,500

GM to have 25 pct fewer dealers after arbitration

DETROIT — General Motors says its dealership network will be 25 percent smaller than a year ago after completing talks with dealers who fought to stay in its network.

GM says it is reinstating about 725 dealers that resisted the automaker’s attempt to kick them out. That leaves GM with 4,500 dealerships, down from 6,049 in June 2009.

GM originally sought to shed even more dealerships from its ranks, but Congress passed a law last year requiring arbitration before automakers could cut a dealership loose.