Chrysler rally brings attention to those affected by auto industry

Chrysler LLC held a rally at an auto dealership in support of their proposed automaker bridge loans. The rally was attended by people affected by the entire auto industry, from the president of Chrysler, to dealers, industry partners, and local businessmen who are dependent on customers that dealers bring to their area.

“We sell an average of 25,000 cars a year to Marlyand residents. The sales tax alone generated on these vehicles over $30 million a year,” said Tammy Darvish of the Darcars Automotive Group, a car dealership group in Maryland and Northern Virginia. “We have 233 local businesses and vendors with whom we do over $83 million a year of business with…these are examples of where the pain would really be felt if manufacturers who provide us vehicles were not provided the much-needed support from Congress.” Darvish emphasized that communities and stories like hers can be told across the country. “We are the backbone of the American economy, and there is no other industry stronger or more united in good times or in bad times than all of us automotive dealers here today,” said Darvish.

This rally isn’t about “Wall Street or board rooms…this is main street, this is jobs, this is preserving our way of life,” said Jim Press, Vice Chairman and President of Chrysler. “This isn’t a business of a couple people flying around on jets,” said Press, “Chrysler is…a company that has made the way of life we enjoy.” Press said that if one of the automaker companies went under, it would have a ripple effect throughout the entire economy. “I flew Southwest to come here, I took the train from Philadelphia…I’m in a town-and-country van to go to Washington,” said Press.