Carson Jeep one of the 789 dealerships Chrysler shutting down

Carson Jeep is on the list of dealerships Chrysler LLC plans to close, according to a plan filed in bankruptcy court Thursday.

The automaker wants to shutter 789 dealerships nationwide, about 25 percent of its dealer network.

Jeff Woodward, owner of Carson Jeep-Nissan, 3390 S. Carson St., said he didn't have any comment, but that he would have more information today.

Chrysler brands include Jeep and Dodge. Carson Dodge, 3059 S. Carson St., was not on the closure list.

Chrysler Vice Chairman Jim Press called the cuts difficult but necessary. He said the list of dealers is final and there will be no appeal process.

"This is a difficult day for us and not a day anybody can be prepared for," Press told reporters during a conference call.

In its motion, Chrysler said it has many dealerships that sell one or two of its brands, with Chrysler-Jeep dealerships competing against Dodge dealers as well as other automakers' stores across the country.

Forty-four percent of the dealerships on the list to be closed also sell non-Chrysler vehicles, like Carson Jeep-Nissan.

A hearing is scheduled for June 3 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York for the judge to determine whether to approve Chrysler's motion.

Chrysler executives said the company is trying to preserve its best-performing dealers and eliminate ones with the weakest sales. More than half of the dealerships being eliminated sell less than 100 vehicles per year, they said, and account for 14 percent of U.S. sales.

The 3.5 million customers who purchased vehicles from the affected dealers will be notified about the closures and their warranties will still be honored, said Vice President Steven Landry.

Chrysler dealerships aren't the only ones scheduled to get bad news this week. General Motors Corp. says it is notifying 1,100 dealers that it will not renew their franchise agreements when they expire at the end of September 2010.

General Motors also has discussed plans to shut 42 percent of it dealerships, and is currently compiling a list of those to be closed.

Chrysler has received $4 billion in federal loans and has been operating in bankruptcy protection since April 30. Its sales this year are down 46 percent compared with the first four months of last year and it reported a $16.8 billion net loss for 2008.