US auto dealers in fight for survival

Car dealerships in the US are likely to decline by about 900 in the current economic downturn.

The National Automobile Dealers Association has said some sales outlets are adjusting to the number of American cars being built.

The tightening of the credit markets, which dealers also rely on to purchase vehicles, has also come to a standstill, causing dealers to shed floor space and staff.

Many of the rocky dealerships are in smaller cities and towns and have been mainstays of local business.