PORTLAND, Ore. - A local car dealer is calling for major automakers to help jump start change.
Ron Tonkin started his first of 18 dealerships nearly 50 years ago but with sagging sales today, he has decided to take matters into his own hands.
"I just didn't want to sit by any longer and see what's happening to everybody," he said.
So he wrote a letter to the leaders of three major auto brands, asking them to urge politicians for a $2,500 tax credit for anyone purchasing a new GM, Ford or Chrysler product for the balance of the year. Not a bailout, he said, but a stimulant to get American manufacturers back on their feet.
"I don't know what I expect to hear from them," he said. "I just hope that it triggers a response of some sort. And I think that if they really sit down and think about it, maybe this is a key that will unlock some progress."
<< Back to article
