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Two Directors Re-Elected to Group 1 Automotive Board

3 June 1998

Two Directors Re-Elected to Group 1 Automotive Board

                  McCall, Bidwell to Serve Three-Year Terms

    HOUSTON, June 3 -- Group 1 Automotive, Inc., , a
leading operator and consolidator in the automotive retailing industry,
announced the re-election of two directors for three-year terms.  The election
was held at the company's annual meeting.
    Sterling B. McCall Jr., 63, has served as a director of Group 1 since
August 1996.  McCall has 29 years of automotive retailing experience and
Sterling McCall Toyota, a Group 1 dealership, is the second largest Toyota
dealership in the country.  He is a former director of the American
International Automobile Dealers Association, a former director and chairman
of the Houston Automobile Dealers Association and a former chairman of the
Gulf States Toyota Dealer Council.  McCall has won the Time Magazine Quality
Dealer Award and the Sports Illustrated Dealer of Distinction Award.
    Bennett E. Bidwell, 70, was elected a director of Group 1 in June 1997.
He is the former chairman of Chrysler Motors Corporation, spent 27 years with
Ford Motor Company and was president and chief operating officer of The Hertz
Corporation.  Bidwell currently serves as a director of International
Management Group, Budd Company and Kelly Management Group.
    "I am very pleased that Sterling and Ben have been re-elected to the
board," stated B.B. Hollingsworth Jr., Group 1's chairman, president and chief
executive officer.  "Both have been instrumental in the success of Group 1 and
their expertise in automotive retailing will be invaluable as we continue to
expand our operations."
    Group 1 was founded to become a leading operator and consolidator in the
highly fragmented automotive retailing industry.  Upon completion of one
previously announced acquisition, Group 1 will own 60 dealership franchises
comprised of 24 different brands, and 12 collision service centers located in
Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Florida and Georgia.  Through its
dealerships, the company sells new and used cars and light trucks, provides
maintenance and repair services, sells replacement parts and arranges related
financing, insurance and service contracts.
    Group 1 Automotive, Inc. can be reached on the Internet at
http://www.group1auto.com