---

Group 1 Automotive Names John S. Bishop SVP Operations

23 September 1998

Group 1 Automotive Names John S. Bishop SVP Operations

    HOUSTON, Sept. 23 -- Group 1 Automotive, Inc. , a
leading operator and consolidator in the automotive retailing industry,
announced today that it has named John S. Bishop as senior vice president --
operations.  Bishop, 51, is joining Group 1 after a distinguished 25-year
career in the automobile industry working with manufacturers and distributors.
    B.B. Hollingsworth Jr., Group 1's chairman, president and chief executive
officer, said, "Because our acquisition strategy has been successful and
doubled our size in less than a year, it makes sense to fill this position
now.  John is a talent we know well and he will fit comfortably within our
culture.  His experience and reputation in our industry are well known, and
will serve him well as he oversees Group 1's operations and coordinates
activities with our dealerships."
    Bishop joins Group 1 after 17 years with Houston-based Gulf States Toyota
(GST), an independent distributor of Toyota vehicles, parts and accessories,
serving approximately 140 Toyota dealers in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma,
Arkansas and Mississippi.  He held a variety of management positions there,
the most recent being group vice president -- sales and marketing.  Since
1994, Bishop has also directed overall operations of Gulf States Marketing
Services, an affiliate of GST, establishing the company as a primary direct
marketing supplier to Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.  Before joining GST, Bishop
spent a combined eight years with Ford Motor Company and Chrysler Corporation.
    "John's experience with Toyota, Ford and Chrysler -- three of our largest
brands -- make him uniquely qualified to help guide our operations,"
Hollingsworth said.
    "Since joining the Gulf States Toyota family in 1981, John has been a key
player in the company's growth, increased sales and improved market share,"
said Jerry Pyle, president and chief executive officer of Friedkin Automotive
Companies.  "His associates at Gulf States Toyota and Toyota Motor Sales, Inc.
will miss him greatly, but wish him every success in his new role."
    Bishop holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and an M.B.A.
from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
    Group 1 was founded to become a leading operator and consolidator in the
highly fragmented automotive retailing industry.  Group 1 owns 62 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 vehicle service contracts.
    Group 1 Automotive, Inc. can be reached on the Internet at
http://www.group1auto.com