Group 1 Automotive Announces Appointment of John C. Rickel as Chief Financial Officer

Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE:GPI), a Fortune 500 specialtyretailer, today announced the appointment of John C. Rickel as chieffinancial officer, effective Dec. 20, 2005.

Rickel, 44, will oversee Group 1's finance, information services,investor relations and corporate administrative functions. Mostrecently, Rickel was employed by Ford Motor Company as controller,Ford Americas, where he was responsible for the financial managementof Ford's western hemisphere automotive operations with gross revenuesapproaching $100 billion. Prior to this role, Rickel was chieffinancial officer of Ford Europe, where he oversaw all accounting,financial planning, information services, tax and investor relationsactivities. Rickel also held a number of executive and managerialpositions of increasing responsibility since beginning his career withFord in 1984.

"We are pleased to get someone of John's caliber to become ournext CFO," said Earl J. Hesterberg, Group 1's president and chiefexecutive officer. "He has broad-based corporate finance experience,as well as experience with automotive dealerships, making him aperfect fit for our company."

Rickel is a graduate of The Ohio State University with abachelor's degree in finance, and a master's of businessadministration with a concentration in finance.

In conjunction with Rickel's appointment, Group 1's VicePresident, Finance, H. Clifford Buster will be promoted to vicepresident, treasurer also effective Dec. 20. Buster, reporting toRickel, will be assuming responsibility for the company's treasuryactivities in addition to his continued oversight of Group 1's riskand insurance programs. "Cliff has been an essential member of Group1's management team for more than seven years. He has progressivelyassumed more responsibility and the promotion to treasurer is atribute to his performance and ability," Hesterberg remarked.

About Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

Group 1 owns 94 automotive dealerships comprised of 142franchises, 32 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.