The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

AutoNation Reports Second-Quarter 2005 Earnings From Continuing Operations

* Total store revenue growth of 4% * Same store revenue growth of 2% for new vehicles, 4% for retail used vehicles, 7% for parts and service and 4% for finance and insurance

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 28 -- AutoNation, Inc. , America's largest automotive retailer, today reported 2005 second- quarter net income from continuing operations of $106 million or $0.40 per share, compared to year-ago net income from continuing operations of $97 million or $0.35 per share, an increase of 14%. This increase was primarily a result of solid growth in both revenue and gross profit coupled with continued share repurchase, resolution of various tax matters and leverage of the Company's cost structure.

Second-quarter 2005 revenue totaled $5.0 billion, an increase of 4% compared to the year-ago period resulting from revenue growth in new vehicles of 3%, retail used vehicles of 4%, parts and service of 8% and finance and insurance of 4%. Selling, general and administrative expense (SG&A) in the quarter was $556 million or 70.8% of total gross profit, a 70 basis point improvement versus prior year. Operating income for the second quarter was $210 million, a second-quarter record, up 7% versus prior year.

Commenting on the quarter, Mike Jackson, AutoNation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "AutoNation delivered solid results in the second quarter in every area of the business, including new and used vehicles, finance and insurance and we're especially pleased with our high-margin parts and service business. We also continued to make strides on the cost side of the equation." At the end of the second quarter 2005, AutoNation's new vehicle inventory level was 51 days supply versus 74 days at the end of second quarter 2004, representing a decline of 27,000 units or 26%.

Discontinued operations in the second quarter included a benefit of $0.36 per share from the resolution of various tax matters under audit from prior years.

For the six-month period ended June 30, 2005, the Company earned net income from continuing operations of $195 million or $0.72 per share. Excluding senior note repurchase cost, earnings per share from continuing operations for the six-month period ended June 30, 2005 were $204 million or $0.76 per share, compared to $0.68 per share in the prior year, an increase of 12%. The Company's revenue for the six-month period ended June 30, 2005 totaled $9.6 billion, compared to $9.4 billion in the prior year.

About AutoNation, Inc.

AutoNation, Inc., headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is America's largest automotive retailer and a component of the Standard and Poor's 500 Index. In 2004 AutoNation was named America's Most Admired Automotive Retailer for the 4th year in a row. AutoNation has approximately 27,000 full- time employees and owns and operates 349 new vehicle franchises in 17 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.

                              AUTONATION, INC.
                   UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
                    ($ in millions, except per share data)

                                     Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
                                          June 30,            June 30,
                                       2005      2004      2005      2004

      Revenue:
         New vehicle                 $3,052.0  $2,966.5  $5,736.6  $5,678.7
         Used vehicle                 1,143.7   1,082.0   2,224.4   2,145.1
         Parts and service              658.3     611.4   1,303.7   1,222.0
         Finance and insurance          160.8     154.2     307.6     301.4
         Other                           23.6      22.4      44.6      46.0
      Total revenue                   5,038.4   4,836.5   9,616.9   9,393.2

      Cost of sales:
         New vehicle                  2,835.2   2,756.7   5,322.5   5,273.4
         Used vehicle                 1,035.9     980.2   2,002.0   1,938.8
         Parts and service              370.6     340.6     736.2     683.8
         Other                           11.4      10.5      20.6      20.3
      Total cost of sales             4,253.1   4,088.0   8,081.3   7,916.3

      Gross profit                      785.3     748.5   1,535.6   1,476.9

      Selling, general and
       administrative expenses          555.9     534.9   1,086.1   1,060.6
      Depreciation and amortization      20.5      19.5      40.8      38.0
      Other (income) expenses            (0.7)     (1.4)     (0.6)      0.4

      Operating income                  209.6     195.5     409.3     377.9

      Floorplan interest expense        (28.8)    (20.3)    (54.2)    (36.9)
      Other interest expense            (15.4)    (19.7)    (33.0)    (39.0)
      Other interest expense -
       senior note repurchases           (0.7)       --     (15.1)       --
      Interest income                     1.4       0.7       2.9       1.4
      Other gains (losses)                0.7      (1.0)     (0.2)     (1.4)

      Income from continuing
       operations before income
       taxes                            166.8     155.2     309.7     302.0

      Provision for income taxes         61.0      58.7     115.0     116.7

      Net income from continuing
       operations                       105.8      96.5     194.7     185.3

      Income (loss) from
       discontinued operations, net
       of income taxes                   89.0      (4.4)     97.1      (5.9)

      Net income                       $194.8     $92.1    $291.8    $179.4

      Diluted earnings per share:
         Continuing operations          $0.40     $0.35     $0.72     $0.68
         Discontinued operations        $0.33    $(0.02)    $0.36    $(0.02)

         Net income                     $0.73     $0.34     $1.08     $0.65

      Weighted average common and
       common equivalent shares
       outstanding                      267.8     273.2     269.0     274.5

      Common shares outstanding         261.2     267.7     261.2     267.7

                              AUTONATION, INC.
                        UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
                  ($ in millions, except per vehicle data)

             Operating Highlights           Three Months Ended June 30,
                                        2005      2004  $Variance %Variance
        Revenue:
          New vehicle                 $3,052.0  $2,966.5   $85.5      2.9
            Retail used vehicle          919.5     881.7    37.8      4.3
            Wholesale                    224.2     200.3    23.9     11.9
          Used vehicle                 1,143.7   1,082.0    61.7      5.7
          Parts and service              658.3     611.4    46.9      7.7
          Finance and insurance          160.8     154.2     6.6      4.3
          Other                           23.6      22.4     1.2
        Total revenue                 $5,038.4  $4,836.5  $201.9      4.2

        Gross profit:
          New vehicle                   $216.8    $209.8    $7.0      3.3
            Retail used vehicle          107.3     100.2     7.1      7.1
            Wholesale                      0.5       1.6    (1.1)
          Used vehicle                   107.8     101.8     6.0      5.9
          Parts and service              287.7     270.8    16.9      6.2
          Finance and insurance          160.8     154.2     6.6      4.3
          Other                           12.2      11.9     0.3
        Total gross profit               785.3     748.5    36.8      4.9

        Selling, general and
         administrative expenses         555.9     534.9   (21.0)    (3.9)

        Depreciation and amortization     20.5      19.5    (1.0)
        Other (income) expenses           (0.7)     (1.4)   (0.7)
         Operating income                209.6     195.5    14.1      7.2

        Floorplan interest expense       (28.8)    (20.3)   (8.5)
        Other interest expense           (15.4)    (19.7)    4.3
        Other interest expense - senior
         note repurchases                 (0.7)       --    (0.7)
        Interest income                    1.4       0.7     0.7
        Other gains (losses)               0.7      (1.0)    1.7
          Income from continuing
           operations before income
           taxes                        $166.8    $155.2   $11.6      7.5

        Retail vehicle unit sales:
             New                       104,164   104,201     (37)      --
             Used                       60,554    60,472      82      0.1
                                       164,718   164,673      45       --

        Revenue per vehicle retailed:
             New                       $29,300   $28,469    $831      2.9
             Used                      $15,185   $14,580    $605      4.1

        Gross profit per vehicle
         retailed:
             New                        $2,081    $2,013     $68      3.4
             Used                       $1,772    $1,657    $115      6.9
             Finance and insurance        $976      $936     $40      4.3

                              AUTONATION, INC.
                        UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
                  ($ in millions, except per vehicle data)

             Operating Highlights            Six Months Ended June 30,
                                         2005      2004  $Variance %Variance

        Revenue:
          New vehicle                 $5,736.6  $5,678.7   $57.9      1.0
            Retail used vehicle        1,811.3   1,761.0    50.3      2.9
            Wholesale                    413.1     384.1    29.0      7.6
          Used vehicle                 2,224.4   2,145.1    79.3      3.7
          Parts and service            1,303.7   1,222.0    81.7      6.7
          Finance and insurance          307.6     301.4     6.2      2.1
          Other                           44.6      46.0    (1.4)
        Total revenue                 $9,616.9  $9,393.2  $223.7      2.4

        Gross profit:
          New vehicle                   $414.1    $405.3    $8.8      2.2
            Retail used vehicle          218.7     203.9    14.8      7.3
            Wholesale                      3.7       2.4     1.3
          Used vehicle                   222.4     206.3    16.1      7.8
          Parts and service              567.5     538.2    29.3      5.4
          Finance and insurance          307.6     301.4     6.2      2.1
          Other                           24.0      25.7    (1.7)
        Total gross profit             1,535.6   1,476.9    58.7      4.0

        Selling, general and
         administrative expenses       1,086.1   1,060.6   (25.5)    (2.4)

        Depreciation and amortization     40.8      38.0    (2.8)
        Other (income) expenses           (0.6)      0.4     1.0
         Operating income                409.3     377.9    31.4      8.3

        Floorplan interest expense       (54.2)    (36.9)  (17.3)
        Other interest expense           (33.0)    (39.0)    6.0
        Other interest expense - senior
         note repurchases                (15.1)       --   (15.1)
        Interest income                    2.9       1.4     1.5
        Other gains (losses)              (0.2)     (1.4)    1.2
          Income from continuing
           operations before income
           taxes                        $309.7    $302.0    $7.7      2.5

        Retail vehicle unit sales:
             New                       195,748   198,800  (3,052)    (1.5)
             Used                      120,173   121,396  (1,223)    (1.0)
                                       315,921   320,196  (4,275)    (1.3)

        Revenue per vehicle retailed:
             New                       $29,306   $28,565    $741      2.6
             Used                      $15,072   $14,506    $566      3.9

        Gross profit per vehicle
         retailed:
             New                        $2,115    $2,039     $76      3.7
             Used                       $1,820    $1,680    $140      8.3
             Finance and insurance        $974      $941     $33      3.5

                                        Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended
             Operating Percentages            June 30,          June 30,
                                         % 2005   % 2004   % 2005   % 2004

        Revenue mix percentages:
          New vehicle                      60.6     61.3     59.7     60.5
          Used vehicle                     22.7     22.4     23.1     22.8
          Parts and service                13.1     12.6     13.6     13.0
          Finance and insurance             3.2      3.2      3.2      3.2
          Other                             0.4      0.5      0.4      0.5
                                          100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0

        Gross profit mix percentages:
          New vehicle                      27.6     28.0     27.0     27.4
          Used vehicle                     13.7     13.6     14.5     14.0
          Parts and service                36.6     36.2     37.0     36.4
          Finance and insurance            20.5     20.6     20.0     20.4
          Other                             1.6      1.6      1.5      1.8
                                          100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0

        Operating items as a percentage
         of revenue:
          Gross profit:
             New vehicle                    7.1      7.1      7.2      7.1
             Used vehicle - retail         11.7     11.4     12.1     11.6
             Parts and service             43.7     44.3     43.5     44.0
             Total                         15.6     15.5     16.0     15.7
          Selling, general and
           administrative expenses         11.0     11.1     11.3     11.3
          Operating income                  4.2      4.0      4.3      4.0

        Operating items as a percentage
         of total gross profit:
          Selling, general and
           administrative expenses         70.8     71.5     70.7     71.8
          Operating income                 26.7     26.1     26.7     25.6

                             AUTONATION, INC.
                  UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY DATA, Continued
                  ($ in millions, except per share data)

                                         Three Months   Six Month Ended
            Cash Flow Information       Ended June 30,      June 30,
                                         2005    2004    2005     2004
        Capital expenditures, excluding
         property operating lease
         buy-outs                        $36.8   $33.3    $57.3    $54.7
        Property operating lease
         buy-outs                        $10.3    $ --    $10.3    $77.7
        Stock repurchases                $77.7   $49.8   $148.6   $107.9
        Acquisitions                      $5.9   $66.5     $8.0   $154.4
        Proceeds from exercises of
         stock options                   $29.6   $37.2    $52.7    $49.9
        Senior note repurchases           $6.4    $ --   $112.4     $ --

        Floorplan Assistance       Three Months Ended     Six Month Ended
             and Expense                  June 30,             June 30,
                                  2005   2004 Variance  2005  2004  Variance

       Floorplan assistance
        (included in cost of
        sales)                    $31.5  $29.9   $1.6  $58.6  $56.0    $2.6
       Floorplan interest expense (28.8) (20.3)  (8.5) (54.2) (36.9)  (17.3)

        Net floorplan benefit      $2.7   $9.6  $(6.9)  $4.4  $19.1  $(14.7)

    Balance Sheet and Other Highlights

                                     June 30,    December 31,     June 30,
                                       2005         2004            2004

       Cash and cash equivalents       $47.8          $107.7        $60.6
       Inventory                    $2,623.6        $2,588.7     $3,227.3
       Floorplan notes payable      $2,382.6        $2,470.0     $3,055.7
       Non-vehicle debt               $677.3          $812.6       $821.8
       Equity                       $4,476.6        $4,263.1     $4,083.0

       New days supply (industry
        standard of selling
        days, including fleet)       51 days         53 days      74 days
       Used days supply (trailing
        30 days)                     42 days         37 days      44 days

   Brand Mix - New Vehicle Revenue %
                                  Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended
                                       June 30,              June 30,
                                   2005        2004      2005        2004

   Detroit 3:
     Ford (Ford, Lincoln-Mercury)  18.0        20.5      18.4        21.1
     General Motors (Chevrolet,
      Pontiac, Buick, Cadillac,
      GMC)                         18.6        19.8      17.6        19.4
     Chrysler (Chrysler, Jeep,
      Dodge)                        8.8         9.6       8.8         9.3
       Detroit 3 total             45.4        49.9      44.8        49.8

   Premium Luxury:
     Mercedes                       8.8         8.3       8.9         8.5
     BMW                            4.6         4.8       4.7         4.4
     Lexus                          3.0         3.1       3.1         3.2
     Other premium luxury
      (Jaguar, Rolls Royce)         1.1         1.1       1.0         1.1
       Premium Luxury total        17.5        17.3      17.7        17.2

  Imports:
    Honda                           7.8         7.3       7.7         7.2
    Toyota                         12.4        11.4      12.5        11.3
    Nissan                          9.7         8.6      10.0         8.8
    Other imports                   7.2         5.5       7.3         5.7
      Import total                 37.1        32.8      37.5        33.0
                                  100.0       100.0     100.0       100.0

                              AUTONATION, INC.
                  UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY DATA, Continued
                   ($ in millions, except per share data)

       Comparable Basis Reconciliations
                                             Three Months Ended June 30,
                                                         Diluted Earnings
                                           Net Income        Per Share
                                          2005     2004     2005     2004

       As reported                       $194.8    $92.1    $0.73   $0.34

        Discontinued operations - store
         divestitures, net of income
         taxes                              6.7      4.4    $0.03    0.02
        Discontinued operations - tax
         adjustments                      (95.7)      --   $(0.36)     --

       From continuing operations, as
        reported                         $105.8    $96.5    $0.40   $0.35

                                              Six Months Ended June 30,
                                           Net Income    Diluted Earnings
                                                             Per Share

                                           2005     2004     2005    2004

       As reported                       $291.8   $179.4    $1.08   $0.65

        Discontinued operations - store
         divestitures, net of income
         taxes                             10.3      5.9    $0.04    0.02
        Discontinued operations - tax
         adjustments                     (107.4)      --   $(0.40)     --

       From continuing operations, as
        reported                          194.7    185.3    $0.72   $0.68

        Senior note repurchases             9.1              0.03

       Adjusted                          $203.8   $185.3    $0.76   $0.68

       Business Assumptions Impacting Long-term Average EPS Growth Target
       of 10% to 12% Per Year:

       U.S. light vehicle annual unit    intensely competitive, high 16
        sales                             million units
       SGA % reduction (over 2005 and
        2006)
        (SGA % of gross profit less
        floorplan interest expense)      approximately 110 bp

       Continued opportunistic           share repurchase, debt reduction,
        redeployment of cash flow         capital expenditures and
                                          acquisitions
       Targeted return on incremental
        invested capital                 approximately 15% after-tax

                              AUTONATION, INC.
                          UNAUDITED SAME STORE DATA
                  ($ in millions, except per vehicle data)

     Operating Highlights
                                          Three Months Ended June 30,
                                    2005       2004    $Variance %Variance

  Revenue:
       New vehicle                $3,023.9   $2,965.9    $58.0      2.0
         Retail used vehicle         912.4      881.5     30.9      3.5
         Wholesale                   220.7      199.2     21.5     10.8
       Used vehicle                1,133.1    1,080.7     52.4      4.8
       Parts and service             652.6      611.2     41.4      6.8
       Finance and insurance         159.9      154.1      5.8      3.8
       Other                           8.8        8.8       --       --
  Total revenue                   $4,978.3   $4,820.7   $157.6      3.3

  Gross profit:
       New vehicle                  $214.6     $209.8     $4.8      2.3
         Retail used vehicle         106.7      100.2      6.5      6.5
         Wholesale                    (0.2)       0.5     (0.7)
       Used vehicle                  106.5      100.7      5.8      5.8
       Parts and service             284.8      270.7     14.1      5.2
       Finance and insurance         159.9      154.1      5.8      3.8
       Other                           6.9        7.2     (0.3)    (4.2)
  Total gross profit                $772.7     $742.5    $30.2      4.1

  Retail vehicle unit sales:
       New                         103,376    104,178     (802)    (0.8)
       Used                         60,215     60,462     (247)    (0.4)
                                   163,591    164,640   (1,049)    (0.6)

  Revenue per vehicle retailed:
       New                         $29,251    $28,470     $781      2.7
       Used                        $15,152    $14,579     $573      3.9

  Gross profit per vehicle retailed:
       New                          $2,076     $2,014      $62      3.1
       Used                         $1,772     $1,657     $115      6.9
       Finance and insurance          $977       $936      $41      4.4

                              AUTONATION, INC.
                          UNAUDITED SAME STORE DATA
                  ($ in millions, except per vehicle data)

     Operating Highlights
                                          Six Months Ended June 30,
                                    2005       2004    $Variance %Variance

  Revenue:
       New vehicle                  $5,648.5  $5,674.7  $(26.2)    (0.5)
         Retail used vehicle         1,786.6   1,759.7    26.9      1.5
         Wholesale                     402.0     382.2    19.8      5.2
       Used vehicle                  2,188.6   2,141.9    46.7      2.2
       Parts and service             1,286.4   1,220.8    65.6      5.4
       Finance and insurance           304.7     301.7     3.0      1.0
       Other                            17.1      17.5    (0.4)    (2.3)
  Total revenue                     $9,445.3  $9,356.6   $88.7      0.9

  Gross profit:
       New vehicle                    $407.2    $405.3    $1.9      0.5
         Retail used vehicle           216.4     203.8    12.6      6.2
         Wholesale                       2.4       1.3     1.1
       Used vehicle                    218.8     205.1    13.7      6.7
       Parts and service               558.9     537.7    21.2      3.9
       Finance and insurance           304.7     301.7     3.0      1.0
       Other                            13.5      14.3    (0.8)    (5.6)
  Total gross profit                $1,503.1  $1,464.1   $39.0      2.7

  Retail vehicle unit sales:
       New                           193,487   198,634  (5,147)    (2.6)
       Used                          119,090   121,280  (2,190)    (1.8)
                                     312,577   319,914  (7,337)    (2.3)

  Revenue per vehicle retailed:
       New                           $29,193   $28,569    $624      2.2
       Used                          $15,002   $14,509    $493      3.4

  Gross profit per vehicle retailed:
       New                            $2,105    $2,040     $65      3.2
       Used                           $1,817    $1,680    $137      8.2
       Finance and insurance            $975      $943     $32      3.4

                                       Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended
              Operating Percentages         June 30,            June 30,
                                         % 2005  % 2004     % 2005  % 2004

  Revenue mix percentages:
       New vehicle                         60.7    61.5       59.8    60.6
       Used vehicle                        22.8    22.4       23.2    22.9
       Parts and service                   13.1    12.7       13.6    13.0
       Finance and insurance                3.2     3.2        3.2     3.2
       Other                                0.2     0.2        0.2     0.3
                                          100.0   100.0      100.0   100.0

  Gross profit mix percentages:
       New vehicle                         27.8    28.3       27.1    27.7
       Used vehicle                        13.8    13.6       14.6    14.0
       Parts and service                   36.9    36.5       37.2    36.7
       Finance and insurance               20.7    20.8       20.3    20.6
       Other                                0.8     0.8        0.8     1.0
                                          100.0   100.0      100.0   100.0

  Operating items as a percentage of
   revenue:
      Gross Profit:
        New vehicle                         7.1     7.1        7.2     7.1
        Used vehicle - retail              11.7    11.4       12.1    11.6
        Parts and service                  43.6    44.3       43.4    44.0
        Total                              15.5    15.4       15.9    15.6