Group 1 Automotive

Group 1 was founded as a public corporation in 1997 with B. B. Hollingsworth as chairman and CEO. The founding dealership owners were Bob Howard of Oklahoma City, Sterling McCall, Kevin Whalen of Houston, and Charles Smith of Beaumont.{{cite web|url=http://quotes.wsj.com/GPI/company-people|title=Group 1 Automotive Inc.|website=Wall Street Journal|access-date=16 January 2015}}{{Cite news|url=https://business.rice.edu/person/b-ben-hollingsworth|title=B. Ben Hollingsworth|date=2016-03-03|work=Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University|access-date=2018-01-09|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/business/article/McCall-major-Houston-auto-dealer-dies-at-78-4876763.php|title=McCall, major Houston auto dealer, dies at 78|work=Houston Chronicle|access-date=2018-01-09}}{{cite web|url=https://www.annualreports.com/HostedData/AnnualReportArchive/g/NYSE_GPI_1997.pdf|title=Group 1 Automotive 1997 Annual Report|date=1997|website=www.annualreports.com}}

Subsequent acquisitions in the US include the Gene Messer Automotive Group, Maxwell Auto Group, Ira Motor Group, Bohn Auto Group, Pat Peck Auto Group, Miller Automotive Group among many others.{{Cite news|url=http://www.nasdaq.com/article/group-1-automotive-acquires-a-couple-of-dealerships-in-texas-cm913064|title=Group 1 Automotive Acquires a Couple of Dealerships in Texas|date=2018-01-30|work=NASDAQ.com|access-date=2018-01-30|language=en-us}} These are based in various locations in the United States. In 2021, Group 1 completed its largest acquisition, the Prime Automotive Group, consisting of 28 dealerships in the northeast U.S.{{Cite news|url=https://www.am-online.com/news/acquisitions-and-deals/2018/03/01/group-1-acquires-robinson-s-mercedes-benz-dealerships-confirms-darren-guiver-as-uk-boss|title=Group 1 acquires Robinson's Mercedes-Benz dealerships, confirms Darren Guiver as UK boss|work=AM-online}}

Group 1 also acquired dealer groups in the U.K. including: Barons Group, Chandlers Group, Essex Audi Group, Elms Group, Think Ford, Spire Automotive, Robinsons Motor Group, and the Beadles Group.{{cite web|url=http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/business/business-news/elms-bmw-and-mini-dealership-in-bedford-sold-to-american-company-1-6449433|title=Elms BMW and MINI dealership in Bedford sold to American company|date=1 December 2014|website=Bedford Today|access-date=16 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918071751/http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/business/business-news/elms-bmw-and-mini-dealership-in-bedford-sold-to-american-company-1-6449433|archive-date=18 September 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.am-online.com/news/dealer-news/2016/02/04/group-1-announces-acquisition-of-spire-automotive|title=Group 1 announces acquisition of Spire Automotive|website=www.am-online.com|access-date=2016-07-12}}{{cite web|url=http://www.am-online.com/news/acquisitions-and-deals/2017/07/04/group-1-automotive-expands-jlr-and-gains-vw-through-major-acquisition|title=Group 1 Automotive expands JLR and gains VW through major acquisition|website=www.am-online.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.am-online.com/news/2010/3/1/group-1-automotive-acquires-barons-dealerships/21804/|title=Group 1 Automotive acquires Barons dealerships|website=www.am-online.com|language=en|access-date=2018-01-26}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bmiresearch.com/articles/group-1-acquires-ford-dealerships-from-inchape|title=Group 1 Acquires Ford Dealerships From Inchape, Autos|date=2013-04-01|access-date=2018-01-26|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/business/14906610.Think_Ford_create_30_new_jobs/|title=Think Ford create 30 new jobs|website=Basingstoke Gazette|date=15 November 2016 |language=en|access-date=2018-01-26}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.am-online.com/news/2012/5/8/group-1-confirms-essex-audi-acquisition/30966/|title=Group 1 confirms Essex Audi acquisition|website=www.am-online.com|language=en|access-date=2018-01-26}}

Group 1 purchased the Brazilian automotive dealership group UAB Motors Participacoes S.A. in 2013 and operated as Group 1 Automotive Brazil. Professional race car driver André Ribeiro and his family of dealerships were notable parts of this acquisition. Group 1 divested its Brazilian operations in 2022.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-group1automotive-aquisition/group-1-automotive-rolls-into-brazil-with-uab-motors-buy-idUSBRE90O04820130125|title=Group 1 Automotive rolls into Brazil with UAB Motors buy|date=2013-01-25|work=Reuters|access-date=2018-01-02}}{{Cite web|url=https://andreribeirohonda.com.br/|title=André Ribeiro Honda Website|website=André Ribeiro Honda Website}}

As of 2021, Group 1 is ranked as the fourth largest automotive retailer in the United States, operating 202 dealerships and representing brands such as BMW, Volkswagen, Ford, Toyota, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, GMC, Nissan, Land Rover, Acura, Buick, Chevrolet, and Lexus among many others. Group 1 also operates 44 collision centers in the U.S. and the U.K.

In the US, Group 1 Automotive has dealerships in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. Their corporate headquarters is in the Memorial City district of Houston, Texas."[http://www.memorialcitydistrict.org/images/map_mcity_lg.gif map_mcity_lg.gif] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727080442/http://www.memorialcitydistrict.org/images/map_mcity_lg.gif |date=2011-07-27 }}." Memorial City. Retrieved on December 8, 2009."[http://www.group1auto.com/contactfs.html Contact Us] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510073742/http://www.group1auto.com/contactfs.html|date=2010-05-10}}." Group 1 Automotive. Retrieved on December 8, 2009.

In response to used vehicle retailing trends, the Val-U-Line brand was launched in 2018 to offer enhanced benefits for consumers purchasing older, higher mileage vehicles such as a three-day/300 mile return policy and Carfax vehicle history reports.{{cite news |last1=Roberts |first1=Adrienne |title=Used-Car Sales Boom as New Cars Get Too Pricey for Many |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/used-car-sales-boom-as-new-cars-get-too-pricey-for-many-1537700401 |access-date=4 June 2019}} Initial investment impacted forecasts but future earnings were positive, contributing to a 13.9% increase in used vehicle sales for 2018.{{cite news |last1=Charniga |first1=Jackie |title=Group 1's launch of older used-car brand to eat into Q1 earnings |url=https://www.autonews.com/article/20180320/RETAIL/180329949/group-1-s-launch-of-older-used-car-brand-to-eat-into-q1-earnings |access-date=4 June 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Takahashi |first1=Paul |title=Group 1 Automotive: Used vehicle sales drive record profits in Q2 |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Group-1-Automotive-Used-vehicle-sales-drive-13108829.php |access-date=4 June 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Takahashi |first1=Paul |title=Group 1 Auto sold more used cars than new cars last quarter for the first time in company history |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Group-1-Auto-sold-more-used-cars-than-new-cars-13796246.php |access-date=4 June 2019}}

In 2019, the company created AcceleRide, a digital retailing platform allowing customers to purchase, sell, or arrange service for vehicles online.{{cite news |last1=Szatkowski |first1=Danielle |title=Group 1 Automotive debuts online car-buying platform |url=https://www.autonews.com/dealers/group-1-automotive-debuts-online-car-buying-platform |access-date=4 June 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Takahashi |first1=Paul |title=Group 1 Auto expands online car buying platform |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/retail/article/Group-1-Auto-expands-online-car-buying-platform-13941224.php |access-date=6 June 2019}} The platform also provides vehicle financing, trade-in appraisals, and offsite delivery options.{{cite news |last1=Palermo |first1=Nick |title=New Car Buyers Benefit from Home Delivery |url=https://www.autotrader.com/car-news/new-car-buyers-benefit-from-home-delivery-192052}}

With individual dealerships engage in local philanthropic efforts often independent from the corporate office, Group 1 supports Houston-area causes focusing on community outreach and grade school education. Employees regularly make brown bag lunches to support Kids' Meals and donated cargo vans for their Meals on Wheels deliveries.

The company is partnered with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as the official vehicle sponsor of the Texas MS 150; SEARCH Homeless Services; and Junior Achievement of South East Texas for events,{{Cite web|url=https://www.click2houston.com/news/conroe-hs-senior-surprised-with-new-car-at-2017-junior-achievement-gala|title=Conroe HS senior surprised with new car at 2017 Junior...|last=Martinez|first=Jonathan|website=www.click2houston.com|date=22 March 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-01-19}} classroom mentoring, and the JA Company Program in Spring Branch ISD. Starting in November 2017, Group 1 partnered with the Houston Independent School District to reward their Teacher of the Month recipients with a new vehicle to drive for the month.{{Cite web|url=http://blogs.houstonisd.org/hisdtv/2017/12/05/hisd-teacher-of-the-month-for-december-2017/|title=HISD Teacher of the Month for December 2017 – HISD-TV|website=blogs.houstonisd.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-01-26}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.click2houston.com/news/5-things-to-know-about-kazmere-dean-hisd-s-teacher-of-the-month|title=5 things to know about Kazmere Dean, HISD's Teacher of the Month|last=Aragon|first=Rose-Ann|website=www.click2houston.com|date=7 November 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-01-26}}{{Cite news|url=http://abc13.com/education/hisd-announces-first-teacher-of-the-month/2613478/|title=HISD announces first 'Teacher of the Month'|last=morning|first=tom koch, eyewitness news, anchor, morning news, eyewitness news this|date=2017-11-07|work=ABC13 Houston|access-date=2018-01-26|language=en-US}}

The Group 1 Foundation was initially created to support employees impacted by Hurricane Katrina, closely followed by Hurricane Rita.{{Cite web|url=https://www.guidestar.org/profile/20-3412167|title=Group 1 Foundation Inc - GuideStar Profile|website=www.guidestar.org|language=en|access-date=2018-01-18}} This tax-exempt charity gives all proceeds to help fellow employees in times of hardship. Examples include supporting survivors of fatal car accidents and a fire at an employee's home.

Subsequent natural disasters like the 2013 Moore tornado, Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Harvey, and Hurricane Michael also marked the need for the Group 1 Foundation to assist their employees.

{{reflist}}

{{Portal|Companies|Texas}}

• United States - [https://www.group1auto.com/ Group 1 Automotive]
• United Kingdom - [https://www.group1auto.co.uk/ Group 1 Automotive UK]

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Category:Auto dealerships of the United States

Category:Companies based in Houston

Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange

Category:American companies established in 1997

Category:Retail companies established in 1997

Category:1997 establishments in Texas