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Group 1 Automotive Elects John L. Adams to Board

10 November 1999

Group 1 Automotive Elects John L. Adams to Board

    HOUSTON, Nov. 10 -- Group 1 Automotive, Inc. , a
leading operator and consolidator in the automotive retailing industry, today
announced John L. Adams has been elected to its board of directors.
    Adams is executive vice president of Trinity Industries, Inc., one of
North America's largest manufacturers of transportation, construction and
industrial products.  Before joining Trinity in January 1999, he was chairman
and chief executive officer of Chase Bank of Texas, National Association.
During a 25-year career with Chase Texas and its predecessor, Texas Commerce
Bank, Adams held various positions, most notably as president of the Houston
bank, chairman and chief executive officer of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex,
and, most recently, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Chase
Texas.  Adams was also on the Advisory Board of the Houston Branch of the
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
    Adams, a resident of Dallas, is the chairman of the Southern Methodist
University Tate Lecture Series and previously served as chairman of the
Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce.  He serves as a member on the boards of
directors of American Express International Bank, TU Electric Dallas
(advisory), National Trustee for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.  He has been actively
involved in numerous civic organizations, cultural boards and fund-raising
campaigns in both Dallas and Houston.
    Adams received his B.B.A. in finance from the University of Texas at
Austin and earned his J.D. from the University of Texas Law School.
    "John brings us extensive financial and operations experience," said
B.B. Hollingsworth Jr., Group 1's chairman, president and chief executive
officer.  "We expect his expertise in these areas will make a significant
contribution to our continued growth."
    Group 1 also announced that Sterling B. McCall Jr., one of the company's
founding dealers, has retired from the board of directors.  McCall will
continue to work with Group 1 as a consultant and was elected an advisory
member of the board.
    "Sterling was a key driver behind the formation of Group 1, and we expect
him to continue to be an outstanding ambassador to the dealership and
manufacturer communities on our behalf," Hollingsworth said.  "We thank him
for his past efforts and are pleased that he will continue to give us his
counsel."
    Group 1 is a leading operator and consolidator in the highly fragmented
automotive retailing industry.  Upon completion of the announced acquisitions,
Group 1 will have an annualized revenue run rate of over $3 billion, and will
own 104 dealership franchises comprised of 31 different brands, and 18
collision service centers located in Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, New Mexico,
Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana and Massachusetts.  Through its dealerships and
Internet sites, the company sells new and used cars and light trucks, provides
maintenance and repair services, sells replacement parts and arranges related
financing, vehicle service and insurance contracts.
    For additional information regarding Group 1 Automotive free of charge via
fax, dial 1-800-PRO-INFO and use the company's stock symbol, "GPI."
    Group 1 Automotive, Inc. can be reached on the Internet at
http://www.group1auto.com .