Maryann N. Keller to Join Sonic Automotive, Inc. Board of Directors

    CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 15 Sonic Automotive, Inc.
announced today that veteran auto industry expert, Maryann N.
Keller, has been appointed to the Company's Board of Directors.

    Ms. Keller was a Wall Street auto industry analyst for nearly 28 years and
was named one of the top three auto industry analysts for 12 consecutive
years.  She was also a member of the National Academy of Sciences panel
studying corporate average fuel economy (CAFE standards).  Serving most
recently as head of Priceline.com's automotive unit, Ms. Keller serves on the
Board of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group and is currently
principal of an automotive industry consultancy, Maryann Keller and
Associates.

    O. Bruton Smith, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
stated, "We're thrilled to add an individual of Maryann's stature to our
Board.  Maryann will bring our company invaluable insights into the future of
the automotive industry, e-commerce and automobile manufacturers.  Over the
next several months, we will be seeking to add an additional highly qualified
independent member to our Board which will create a majority of independent
members of the Board."

    Ms. Keller has also been a frequent speaker before industry and auto
dealer groups, and her monthly column has appeared in Automotive Industries
magazine for more than ten years.  In 1989 Ms. Keller's first book "Rude
Awakening: The Rise Fall and Struggle to Recover at General Motors" was
published by William Morrow.  This book received the prestigious Eccles award
from Columbia University.  Her second book "Collision:  GM, Toyota and
Volkswagen and the Race to Own the Twenty-First Century" was published by
Doubleday in 1993.