As part of its downsizing and restructuring, General Motors has said it would eliminate 2,600 dealers nationwide by the end of the year—an announcement is expected soon with the particulars.

But what does that mean for you?

If you live in a rural area, you don’t necessarily need to worry that GM will close your local dealership (unless it only sells Saturns, Saabs, or Hummers). However, the economic crisis itself is forcing many rural dealers to close.

In an interview with Automotive News, GM president Fritz Henderson provided some reassurance to rural GM shoppers, when he said: “We know where our dealer issues are. It’s basically in metro areas with Cadillac and Chevrolet.”  

If you live in one of these cities and buy Cadillacs or Chevrolets, any other nearby GM dealer should be able to provide warranty repairs for your car.

Also, consider using a good independent mechanic for non-warranty work. A recent survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center found car owners more satisfied with maintenance and repair performed by independent shops. 

We will continue to monitor this fast-moving story, reporting here in the Cars blog and also updating advice and news on the Auto Crisis hub.

—Eric Evarts