Chrysler dealership coming to former Saturn site

A Southeast Missouri auto group plans to open a Chrysler dealership inside the former Cape Girardeau Saturn facility at 374 Siemers Drive this fall.

Morlan Chrysler will offer between 125 and 150 new and 100 used vehicles when it opens in early October. This will be the fifth dealership for Morlan Auto Group, which has two stores in Dexter, Mo., and two in Sikeston, Mo. The former Saturn dealership on Siemers Driver ceased operations Dec. 31, with ownership citing a slowing economy as the reason.

John Morlan, a partner with Morlan Auto Group, said his corporation is pleased about expanding into the Cape Girardeau market.

"We're obviously excited about what lies ahead, since this is a good town and a good market," Morlan said. "In our other markets we had a few thousand people, so coming to a market with 50,000 people in Cape Girardeau and Jackson is a big plus. We're blessed to be here."

Morlan said the dealership likely will begin receiving its first shipment of Chryslers in late September. Though the Cash for Clunkers program generated nearly 700,000 new car sales that in turn created an inventory shortage of new vehicles, Morlan is confident that by October he'll receive his order.

Future plans for the dealership include remodeling the building and expanding the service department from five to 21 stalls. He plans to complete the hiring of his dealership staff in the coming weeks.

"If you don't have a good service department, you won't have strong sales," Morlan said. "People will more than likely buy their cars somewhere else the next time if you don't have somewhere for them to return for maintenance."

The news comes at a time when Chrysler and the auto industry is struggling. Chrysler sold 88,900 cars in July, or 9.4 percent less than the same month in 2008. However, sales for the company are 30 percent more than in June. From January through July the company sold 560,097 vehicles, a decrease of 42 percent compared to the same time period last year.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

388-3628

Pertinent address:

374 Siemers Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO