STOUGHTON, Wis. -- The manager of Stark Automotive in Stoughton said the dealership has seen the worst and that business is slowly starting to get better.

Stark Automotive is so optimistic about business that it's about to embark on a major expansion that will double the size of its Stoughton dealership.

The automotive industry has seen its share of cuts over the past year, but managers at Stark Automotive said they believe better days are just around the corner.

"It's been very hard to plan and have any sort of business plan. There have been a few detours along the way -- both in inventory and expense reduction -- to make sure you're here and you come out the other end of this thing, and I think we've done a really good job of that," said Kevin Doerr, general manager at Stark Automotive in Stoughton.

Doerr said the dealership plans to double the size of its current facility, adding on about 10,000 square feet in its service department.

General Motors has announced that it's planning to end its franchise with Thorstad Chevrolet and Don Miller dealerships, and Doerr said many of their customers are coming to Stark, which has increased business.

Last month alone, Stark sold 60 more cars than it did in June of last year.

"Business has absolutely been tougher recently. New car business is not what it once was. Yet I've seen the bottom, and I know it's getting better and the government's doing things to help out the manufacturers," Doerr said.

One of those programs, the "Cash for Clunkers" program is aimed at getting older, lower gas-mileage vehicles off the roads by exchanging them for vehicles that get higher gas mileage. People who qualify for the program can get up to $4,500 off their new car purchase.

For more information on the program, visit http://www.cars.gov/.

Sales Manager Don Miller, of Don Miller Pontiac-GMC on Odana Road, said GM will let the dealership sell GMC vehicles until the end of 2010.

GM has sent a letter to Thorstad Chevrolet on Park Start informing the dealership of plans to end the franchise no later than Oct. 31, 2010. Tom Thorstad, vice president and general manager of Thorstad Chevrolet, said the business has appealed the decision and that it is considering its options at this time.