Five Star Suzuki of Altoona will transition from automobile sales to critical warranty and service repair work and parts for local Suzuki automobile owners, following American Suzuki Motor Corp.'s filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month.
Five Star is among 213 of Suzuki's 219 U.S. automotive dealers that have agreed to Suzuki's dealer settlement agreement, American Suzuki Motor Corp. spokesman Will Briganti said.
Briganti said the 213 dealers represent all of the top 50 dealers and more than 98 percent of the total volume of ASMC's continental U.S. automobile sales.
Five Star Suzuki of Altoona owner Greg Sloan said he remains an "automobile dealer" and will continue to sell Suzuki automobiles for at least several months.
"All I have agreed to do is to continue to service Suzukis, and I will continue to sell them as long as they are available," said Sloan, a member of Suzuki's dealer advisory board.
"I will have new Suzukis for quite some time yet. We still have a good selection of new Suzukis available, and I am buying as many as I can. I will be selling Suzukis for several months into 2013."
ASMC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early November, deciding to discontinue automobile sales in the United States and focus on the growth of its motorcycle/ATV and marine businesses.
