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Sonic Automotive Announces Opening of Manufacturer-Awarded Dealership

7 August 1999

Sonic Automotive, Inc. Announces Opening of Manufacturer-Awarded Dealership and Closings of Previously Announced Acquisitions

    CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 6 -- Sonic Automotive, Inc.
announced today that it has opened a new Volvo dealership in Atlanta, Georgia
and closed on its previously announced acquisition of Southlake Volvo, also in
Atlanta.  The new Volvo franchise was previously awarded to Sonic by Volvo
Cars of North America, and the Company now owns and operates three of the four
Volvo franchises in metropolitan Atlanta.
    The newly-opened dealership operates under the Dyer & Dyer Volvo-Gwinnett
brand name in a new facility with full showroom, parts sales and vehicle
service capabilities.  It is located in Duluth, Georgia, near Gwinnett Place
Mall, in the fastest growing county in Georgia and one of the fastest growing
counties in the United States.  The Company is planning a Grand Opening
celebration that will coincide with its introduction of Volvo's new,
affordably-priced S40 Sedan and V40 Station Wagon.
    Opening of this newly-constructed, state-of-the-art facility is an example
of how Sonic Automotive is working with manufacturers to improve their brand
representation.  Sonic Automotive has and will continue to invest in
facilities and working capital to support Volvo Cars of North America's
aggressive growth plans in the Atlanta market.  This investment coincides with
Volvo's expansion and improvement of its attractive product line.
    Sonic is also pleased to announce that it recently closed its previously
announced acquisitions of the Manhattan Dealership Group with four dealerships
representing six franchises (Lexus, BMW, Jeep, Nissan, Audi and Porsche) in
Washington, D.C. and Reading Pontiac-Buick-GMC and Reading Toyota in Houston,
Texas.
    In 1999, the Company has closed 28 dealership acquisitions totaling
approximately $1.1 billion in 1998 revenues.  Including transactions that have
yet to close, it has announced definitive agreements to acquire 13 additional
dealerships totaling approximately $325 million in 1998 revenues.
    Sonic Automotive, Inc. is one of the leading automotive retailers in the
United States, with operations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Nevada,
North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.  Upon
completion of these acquisitions, Sonic will operate 122 franchises and 28
collision repair centers.
    Included herein are forward-looking statements, including statements with
respect to anticipated revenue growth.  There are many factors which affect
management's views about future events and trends of the Company's business.
These factors involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results
or trends to differ materially from management's view, including without
limitation economic conditions, risks associated with acquisitions and the
risk factors set forth from time to time in the Company's recent filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.