Braman auto dealerships furloughs 327 and lays off 55 workers
South Florida auto dealerships owned by billionaire Norman Braman have announced furloughs and layoffs totaling 382 workers.
In letters dated March 30 and filed to the state’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification site, a representative for Braman says 327 workers at dealerships in Miami, West Palm Beach and Greenacres, also in Palm Beach County, will be furloughed for an undetermined length of time. Another 55 workers will be permanently laid off, the letters said.
“Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, which has resulted in social-distancing measures, travel restrictions, and ongoing government-mandated business closures and directives for individuals to shelter in place, the Company has experienced an unforeseen, sudden, and dramatic loss of business, and must lay off and furlough part of its workforce,” the company said.
A representative for Braman said the company declined to comment.
Auto dealerships have been among the hardest-hit sectors of the economic crisis sparked by coronavirus. Earlier this month, Fort Lauderdale-based AutoNation announced it would furlough 7,000 workers. State layoff data also show Asbury Automotive Group, a publicly traded dealer with 11 dealerships across Florida, furloughing more than 300 workers.
A Tuesday report projects global auto sales are set to fall 22% in 2020.
Braman, a key player in Miami’s politics, art, and philanthropy scenes, is alleged by Forbes to have a net worth of $2.5 billion.
This story was originally published April 21, 2020 at 3:41 PM.
