Dealership to sell Hyundais; drops Big 3

The Geri LeBlanc dealership in Schriever has dropped the Buick, GMC and Pontiac brands due to the Big Three manufacturer’s uncertain future.

Only Hyundais are being sold from the 644 West Main St. location.

Dealership owner Greg LeBlanc Sr. said he felt safer severing ties with General Motors now than taking the chance that GM would not receive a Congressional bailout or file for bankruptcy protection.

Last month, CEOs from the country’s Big 3 automakers – GM, Ford and Chrysler – asked Congress for a $25 billion loan to keep their companies from collapsing.

“It would be pretty risky if there was no bailout, and I got stuck with the cars and the money GM would have owed,” he said. “I think they will get the bailout, but I didn’t want to take the chance.”

“There was even more risk because GM considers Chevrolet and Cadillac their essential brands. Pontiac, Buick, and GMC they call incremental brands,” LeBlanc explained. “Since I terminated my relationship with GM, they have discussed dropping the Pontiac brand. If there is a bankruptcy, they don’t have to buy back the cars or pay me what they owe.”

GM usually owes dealers for warranty claims and customer cash back, which is usually applied to the down payment.

General Motors has agreed to buy back LeBlanc’s nearly 100-vechicle inventory and its parts. Pontiac, Buick and GMC vehicle owners can have warranties honored at the Barker dealership on Main Street in Houma.

Most of the Geri LeBlanc employees will be placed in one of Greg LeBlanc’s other Houma dealerships.

“We have three other brands – Nissan, Toyota and Hyundai,” LeBlanc said. “So dropping Pontiac, Buick, and GMC wouldn’t take us out of the car business. We still have some strong brands.”

LeBlanc was also considering moving its Toyota dealership from South Hollywood Road to property he owns in Gray near U.S. Highway 90. That plan is on hold until a clearer economic outlook emerges.

“We’re watching the market and see whether to delay the project or look at the Schriever location, the former GMC building,” LeBlanc said. “It would require a major remodel. We’re evaluating the cost versus the cost of building new. It’s just a matter of how long the market stays soft.”

The Schriever dealership, named for Greg LeBlanc’s wife, sold only Pontiacs only for 23 years and then added Buick and GMC lines 13 years ago.

“She was working more out of that dealership at the time. Since then, we both work at all of them,” LeBlanc said.

The dealership garnered local fame through a series of humorous commercials featuring a price-slashing parrot named Polly.

Unlike the GM line of vehicles, the LeBlancs have not terminated their relationship with Polly.

“We don’t do as much advertising with her anymore, but Polly is doing good,” LeBlanc said. “She’s resting at the house.”

The Geri LeBlanc dealership in Shriever is dropping the Buick, GMC and Pontiac brands. Only Hyundais are being sold at the West Main site. * Photo by KYLE CARRIER