Group 1 Automotive Announces Regional Chief Financial Officers

Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE:GPI), a Fortune 500 automotiveretailer, today announced management changes as part of the company'srestructuring previously announced on Nov. 1, 2005.

Consistent with the Jan. 1 transition to five regional vicepresidents, Group 1 announced that it has created five regional chieffinancial officer (CFO) positions aligning directly with thoseregional vice presidents. These new regional CFOs will report directlyto John C. Rickel, Group 1's senior vice president and chief financialofficer, and include:
Regional Vice President
Region CFO (previously appointed)
Northeast Matthew E. McGovern David S. Rosenberg
Southeast Robert J. Kennedy Joseph C. Herman
South Central Paul T. Reinhart Frank Grese Jr.
West Central Pete S. Ruiz Gregory W. Wessels
California Douglas W. Stewart David L. Hutton

"The appointment of regional CFOs is a natural step in theregionalization process we announced last November," said Earl J.Hesterberg, Group 1's president and chief executive officer. "UnderJohn's leadership, this will create a very strong finance team thatwill improve our finance systems and analytical capabilities.Additionally, each of these regional CFOs possesses significantautomotive retail experience and will be located with our regionalvice presidents. This will enable them to support our regional vicepresidents in standardizing and unifying our key operating processes,improving our cost structure and our overall efficiency levels."

The company also announced that Peter C. DeLongchamps and Randy L.Callison have been given expanded corporate roles. DeLongchamps, vicepresident, manufacturer relations and public affairs, will now overseecommunity and media relations and legislative affairs in addition tohis responsibility for manufacturer relations. Callison, vicepresident, corporate development and operational support, willcontinue to direct acquisition activities and will now coordinate ourfield operations.

In addition, the company named J. Stevens Waller, 45, vicepresident, corporate development. Waller, who will report to Callison,brings more than 15 years of experience in automotive-related fields,having served as vice president for Comerica Bank overseeing allaspects of sales, marketing and customer care initiatives for thebank's automobile dealership portfolio in four states. Most recently,Waller served as central region vice president for Capital AutomotiveREIT, a specialty finance company focused on automotive real estate.

"We are very pleased to have experienced automotive people likeSteve join our team," said Hesterberg. "We need this type of leader tohelp us improve our overall operating efficiency while simultaneouslygrowing our company."

Group 1 also announced today that H. Clifford Buster III, vicepresident and treasurer, elected to leave Group 1 to pursue otherbusiness opportunities.

"Cliff has been an integral part of the management team at Group 1since 1998," said Hesterberg. "I would like to thank Cliff for hiscontributions and wish him well in his new endeavors."

Additionally, John T. Turner, 62, has announced his intention toretire from Group 1 within the next 12 months. Turner serves as thecompany's executive vice president, reporting directly to Hesterbergand is one of the founding executives of Group 1 Automotive. Althoughan exact date for Turner's retirement has not yet been determined, itis planned that he will begin the transition sometime this summer.

"I am now entering my ninth year with Group 1 and have watched thecompany grow from three groups of dealerships into a Fortune 500company," said Turner. "I am very proud of what we have accomplished,but I feel that we now have a stable management team that will allowme to slow down."

Hesterberg commented, "John represents the heart and soul of Group1 Automotive. He has been involved in every dealership acquisitionsince the founding of the company and has either trained or mentoredvirtually all of our managers - including me. We will miss John, buthe deserves a chance to pursue and enjoy other activities in life atthis stage of his career. I am also pleased that John has agreed tocontinue to assist myself and Group 1 management as he moves towardretirement from the company."

About Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

Group 1 owns 95 automotive dealerships comprised of 139franchises, 31 brands and 30 collision service centers located inCalifornia, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, NewHampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma and Texas.Through its dealerships, the company sells new and used cars and lighttrucks; arranges related financing, vehicle service and insurancecontracts; provides maintenance and repair services; and sellsreplacement parts.

Group 1 Automotive can be reached on the Internet atwww.group1auto.com.