Arlington Hts. car dealer still in business

Roto Subaru Mazda in Arlington Heights will remain in business, but will no longer sell new Lincolns or Mercurys, Phil Doukas, secretary-treasurer of the company, said Wednesday.

Customers have been concerned over a letter sent by the Ford Motor Co., making it sound like Roto was going out of business, said Ronald Dietz of Arlington Heights.

Dietz sent the Daily Herald a copy of the letter he received from Ford that includes “And while Roto Lincoln-Mercury in Arlington Heights, IL, where you service your vehicle, is no longer in operation as part of our dealer network ... ”

Doukas explained that Ford is discontinuing the Mercury line and would have required Roto to make more than $1 million in improvements to its showroom to continue as a Lincoln dealer. Roto decided against this.

Roto can continue to service Ford products, but Lincoln owners who want reimbursements under warranties will have to go to an out-of-town dealer, he said.

Doukas said the dealership is not pleased with the wording of the letter from Ford and also thinks the car company should have notified Roto before sending the letters. Roto is working on a letter of its own to customers, he said.

The Arlington Heights company will continue to sell Subarus and Mazdas as well as used cars of all kinds.