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AutoWay Sells Off Clearwater Dealership

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By MICHAEL SASSO

msasso@tampatrib.com

Published: November 19, 2008

AutoWay Dodge of Clearwater closed this week and sold its Dodge franchise to another dealer, becoming at least the fourth local automobile dealership to shut down this year.

AutoWay Dodge, 19400 U.S. 19 N. in Clearwater, recently struck a deal to sell its business and inventory of cars and trucks to Dayton Andrews Chrysler Jeep, 2388 Gulf to Bay Blvd. in Clearwater, said Marc Cannon, spokesman for AutoNation Inc., which owns AutoWay dealerships in the Bay area.

The Dodge dealership is the second AutoWay-brand dealership to close in the Bay area recently. The company closed the sales operation of its AutoWay Chevrolet of Tampa Bay in Tampa last week, although it kept open the dealership's collision and parts departments.
Cannon said Tuesday he wasn't sure how many people work at AutoWay Dodge, but many likely will join Dayton Andrews.

Earlier this month, AutoNation announced it had lost $1.4 billion, or $7.95 a share, in the third quarter of 2008, blaming performance on the poor economy.

Other local dealerships that have closed this year include Bill Heard Chevrolet in Plant City and Bob Wilson Dodge of Tampa.

Reporter Michael Sasso can be reached at (813) 259-7865.

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