Robert Cupp announced on Tuesday that General Motors renewed Cupp Chevrolet's franchise contract. 

Cupp says "My family and I are eternally grateful for the outpouring of support from our family, friends and neighbors in north-central Missouri.  Without their support we would not have prevailed in getting GM to take a second look at our dealership."

The Cupps had learned in May that their dealership was slated to be cut from the Chevrolet franchisee family.  The family rallied the community, which responded by holding an actual rally on May 30th, where more than 1,200 people showed up to show their support.  Cupp says that along with the community support and smart business moves lie behind the appeal win, "We made a strong economic case and we committed to increasing our sales value.  We understand what is before us.  We have much work to do."

Among those decisions was printing a book, laying out its long-term business plan.  Cupp also included some of the letters of support they'd received from the likes of Ike Skelton and Kit Bond, as well as members of the community and past customers, some of those customers being third generation Cupp car buyers. 

They sent a copy of the book to GM, as well as President Obama's Car Czar, the latter helped along by Sen. Bond's office. 

GM cut ties with more than 1,000 franchises in the U.S. as part of a restructuring following a Federal bailout this year.  Five Mid-Missouri dealerships were on that list, and have appealed to GM.  The Cupps are the first to hear the results of the appeal.  You can find an interactive roll-over graphic illustrating where these dealerships are in Mid-Missouri on the sidebar of this page.

Sam Barbie, the President of the Missouri Automobile Dealers Association called the occasion "bittersweet" considering the hundreds of other dealers  facing termination of their franchise relationships.

Marceline is known as the boyhood home of Walt Disney, and the Cupp dealership has a Mickey Mouse flag flying out front.