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Group 1 Automotive Breaks Ground on Florida Ford Dealership

26 June 1998

Group 1 Automotive Breaks Ground on Florida Ford Dealership

             Pembroke Pines Facility Based on New Ford Prototype;
                        Will be One of Ford's Largest

    HOUSTON, June 26 -- Group 1 Automotive, Inc. , a
leading operator and consolidator in the automotive retailing industry,
announced today that it has broken ground on a new Ford dealership in Pembroke
Pines, Fla.  The dealership is a new Ford Motor Company prototype that when
completed, will be one of the largest for Ford in the United States.
    The new facility, expected to open in June 1999, will be part of the
Carroll Automotive Group, Group 1's recently acquired platform operation in
the Southeast.  Carroll is among the Top 100 dealer groups in terms of
revenues in the United States, according to Automotive News.
    "We are excited to be one of the first dealerships to implement Ford's new
prototype," stated B.B. Hollingsworth Jr., Group 1's chairman, president and
chief executive officer.  "Ford has been very successful in locating
dealerships where the population is expanding rapidly and this new facility is
situated in a prime area.  The south Florida market has been excellent for
Ford, and we expect that it will be excellent for Group 1."
    Pembroke Pines, located between Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Miami, is the
third fastest-growing area in the United States.  According to Larry Stone,
Ford Division's regional market representation manager in Orlando, Fla., the
site was selected because of its central location in South Broward County.
    "Ford's consumer research studies indicate that the location will provide
customers from both Hollywood, Fla., and Pembroke Pines with a convenient
place to purchase new and used vehicles, as well as service," Stone said.
"This new state-of-the-art facility is designed to handle the anticipated
demand in vehicle sales and service in one of the fastest-growing communities
in the country."
    The new dealership will be situated on 23 acres, allowing for a 150,000-
square foot facility, including a 30,000-square foot collision service center,
triple the average size.  According to Group 1, the collision service center
was sized much larger than average to meet the needs of Florida insurance
companies who are concerned with the lack of capacity in the area.  The
dealership will incorporate many features that Ford's research indicates
consumers want, including a customer lounge/cafeteria, a play area for
children and a "quiet area" where customers may hook up laptop computers.
    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