Local car dealer closed as part of companywide shutdown

Bill Heard Chevrolet on Decatur Boulevard closed today as part of a companywide shutdown.

It was unclear how many employees were laid off.

Bill Heard Enterprises of Georgia announced it was closing all 13 of its dealerships nationwide due to the current national economic climate.

In a statement, the company blamed "rising fuel prices, a product portfolio of mostly heavy trucks and sport utility vehicles, economic recession, unfavorable local market conditions for vehicle sales, the crisis in the banking and financing sectors, and other factors all combined to create a business environment in which the company simply did not have the resources needed to continue to operate.'' The company said 2,700 employees nationwide were affected by the closings.