Automotive Retailer Details Commitment to Customer - How Refreshing

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 29 -- Taking the lead among automotive retailers and seeking to ensure that its customers have a positive shopping experience, AutoNation, Inc. has unveiled "The AutoNation Pledge." The Pledge is a document that explains certain rights customers have during the vehicle financing process and clearly states the company's commitment to them. A copy of the Pledge will be provided to each customer. A poster detailing these positions will be displayed prominently at all of AutoNation's 365 retail franchises. The AutoNation Pledge will be in place at dealerships across the country beginning August 2, 2004.

"Purchasing a vehicle can be an exciting experience, but it can also be a confusing one," said Mike Jackson, Chairman and CEO of AutoNation. "That's why we developed The AutoNation Pledge, to empower our customers to make decisions that are right for them. This Pledge makes it very clear that we are completely committed to giving them the respect they deserve. It reminds them that they are in the driver's seat when it comes to vehicle financing, and they can direct the transaction to their liking."

One of The AutoNation Pledge's defining qualities is its simplicity. The company felt that it was important to make a clear, direct statement of principle. "Our pledge to you," it states, is "to offer you competitive loan and lease financing," and "to enhance your ownership experience by offering you products to protect your purchase, such as Service Contracts, Pre-Paid Maintenance, Theft Protection, Gap Protection, etc."

In the heart of the Pledge, it goes on to state, "We Want You To Know The Following: You may obtain your own financing. Interest rates may be negotiable. We may retain a portion of the finance charge or other compensation for arranging your financing. The purchase of protection products is not required to obtain financing or a lower interest rate."

AutoNation is optimistic that the Pledge will set a standard that other retailers will follow. "Its important to our industry as a whole that we work together to continually improve customer satisfaction," Jackson said. "A lot of people may not realize that satisfaction with automotive retailers is already very high -- higher, in fact, than the airline, computer, utility and telecom industries. But there's always more we can do, and a public commitment to open and fair business practices is an important step in the right direction."

About Autonation, Inc.

AutoNation, Inc., headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is America's largest automotive retailer. Ranked No. 97 on the 2004 Fortune 500 and a component of the Standard and Poor's 500 Index, AutoNation employs approximately 28,000 people and owns and operates 365 new vehicle franchises in 18 states. For additional information, please visit http://corp.autonation.com/ or http://www.autonation.com/, where more than 100,000 vehicles are available for sale.