Who Owns AutoNation?
AutoNation is the retail brand of AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE: AN), one of the largest automotive retailers in the United States, headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The brand covers 323 new-vehicle franchises at 245 stores selling 30 manufacturer brands, plus collision centers and service operations. The company reported FY2025 revenue of $27.6 billion.
Parent Company
Founded
1996
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Who Owns AutoNation?
- Parent Company: AutoNation, Inc.
- Ownership Type: Brand division
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: New York Stock Exchange: AN
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| AutoNation | AutoNation, Inc. | Brand division |
Where to Buy
Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchases
AutoNation on AmazonHistory of AutoNation
- Founded: 1996
- Founders: H. Wayne Huizenga
The AutoNation brand originated in 1996 inside Republic Industries, H. Wayne Huizenga's acquisition vehicle. Huizenga, who had built Waste Management and Blockbuster, saw car retailing as the next fragmented industry to consolidate. Republic acquired the AutoNation USA used-car superstore concept in January 1997 and spent the late 1990s buying new-car dealerships at unprecedented speed, accumulating hundreds of franchises plus the Alamo and National rental car brands.
By 1999 the company had renamed itself AutoNation, Inc., unified its dealerships under the AutoNation name, and become the first national brand in American car retail. The first strategy hit limits quickly: the AutoNation USA superstores closed between 1999 and 2001, and the rental car operations were divested in 2000.
Mike Jackson ran the company from 1999 to 2019, refining the model around centralized pricing, shared inventory systems, and the high-margin businesses attached to car sales: service, parts, collision repair, and finance products. Under Jackson the brand expanded its Premium Luxury store count and built its digital retail presence.
Leadership turned over after Jackson: Carl Liebert briefly in 2019, Cheryl Miller through 2021, then Mike Manley, recruited in November 2021 after merging Fiat Chrysler into Stellantis. Manley's strategy pushed the brand deeper into used cars and finance: AutoNation USA was relaunched as a standalone used-vehicle store chain reaching 26 locations by the end of 2025, AutoNation Finance launched in 2022 as a captive lender, and the collision network grew to 52 centers.
FY2025 marked the brand's first year of earnings growth since 2022: revenue of $27.63 billion, up 3 percent, with record gross profit in the after-sales business and adjusted free cash flow above $1 billion.
About AutoNation, Inc.
What does AutoNation own?
AutoNation owns and operates 323 new-vehicle franchises at 245 stores, 26 AutoNation USA used-vehicle stores, 52 collision centers, four wholesale auction operations, three parts distribution centers, a mobile repair business, and the AutoNation Finance captive lender. Its stores sell vehicles from 30 manufacturer brands, led by Toyota, Honda, Ford, and General Motors.
Is AutoNation publicly traded?
Yes. AutoNation trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker AN and is a component of the S&P 400 index. The company has been publicly held since the Republic Industries era of the late 1990s.
Who founded AutoNation?
H. Wayne Huizenga founded AutoNation in 1996 as the automotive division of Republic Industries. Huizenga, who previously built Waste Management and Blockbuster, rolled up hundreds of dealerships into the first national car retail brand.
Where is AutoNation headquartered?
AutoNation is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. Its stores are concentrated in the Sunbelt, with major presence in Florida, Texas, and California.
How many brands does AutoNation own?
AutoNation operates three principal brands: AutoNation for new-vehicle dealerships and collision centers, AutoNation USA for used-vehicle superstores, and AutoNation Finance for captive lending. It sells vehicles from 30 manufacturer brands but does not own them.
Who owns AutoNation?
AutoNation is owned by its public shareholders, with no controlling owner. ESL Investments, the fund associated with Edward Lampert, has historically been the largest shareholder, alongside major institutional investors.
What happened with the FTC case against AutoNation?
In January 2025, the FTC and the Illinois Attorney General announced a roughly $20 million settlement with Leader Automotive Group, an AutoNation subsidiary, over allegations of deceptive advertising and unwanted add-on charges at Illinois dealerships. The settlement included consumer redress and compliance requirements.
- Founded: 1996
- Headquarters: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: New York Stock Exchange: AN
- Revenue: $27.6 billion (FY2025)
- Employees: Approximately 24,800
Where Is AutoNation Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
AutoNation Categories & Tags
AutoNation Recalls & Controversies
FTC Settlement on Dealer Practices (2025): In January 2025 the Federal Trade Commission and the Illinois Attorney General announced an approximately $20 million settlement with Leader Automotive Group, an AutoNation subsidiary operating dealerships in Illinois. The agencies alleged bait-and-switch advertising, hidden add-on charges, and sales of products customers did not request. The settlement resolved the claims with consumer redress and compliance requirements.
Vehicle Recalls: As a retailer, AutoNation does not issue recalls itself; manufacturer recalls are serviced through its franchise stores. The brand periodically faces scrutiny over the pace of recall repairs on used vehicles sold before remedies are available, an industry-wide issue affecting all large retailers.
Brands Owned by AutoNation, Inc.
Finance FintechAutoNation Finance
Owned by AutoNation, Inc.
Captive auto lending arm of AutoNation, Inc., providing vehicle financing to customers across the retailer's store network.
auto-financeauto-lendingcaptive-finance
AutomotiveAutoNation USA
Owned by AutoNation, Inc.
AutoNation's standalone used-vehicle superstore brand, operating no-haggle used car stores across major US metropolitan markets.
used-carsautomotive-retailautonation
AutoNation Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Single national brand supports centralized systems competitors cannot match
- +After-Sales business delivers record profits and cushions vehicle margin swings
- +Sunbelt footprint in faster-growing metro markets
- +Scale gives manufacturers reason to allocate desirable inventory
- +Captive lender adds a new profit pool under the brand umbrella
Considerations
- -Structurally thin new-vehicle margins, dependent on manufacturer relationships
- -Tariff and incentive swings create demand volatility
- -FTC settlement over subsidiary sales practices is a compliance and reputational mark
- -Competition from Lithia, Penske, and used-vehicle specialists across every segment
Frequently Asked Questions About AutoNation
Sources & Further Reading
Competitors to AutoNation
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penske Automotive | USA | 1992 | Market leader | United states | All-ages | |
| Autonation | USA | 1996 | Mass market | United states | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
AutomotivePenske Automotive
Owned by Penske Automotive Group, Inc.
Flagship automotive retail brand of Penske Automotive Group, operating franchised dealerships across the United States and internationally under the Penske name.
car-dealershipautomotive-retailnew-cars
AutomotiveAutoNation USA
Owned by AutoNation, Inc.
AutoNation's standalone used-vehicle superstore brand, operating no-haggle used car stores across major US metropolitan markets.
used-carsautomotive-retailautonation
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: AutoNation competes with 2 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Independent Alternatives to AutoNation
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by AutoNation, Inc., giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
AutomotiveHyundai
Owned by Hyundai Motor Group
South Korean automobile manufacturer known for its value proposition, quality improvements, and stylish designs in the global automotive market.
korean-carvalue-brandglobal-automaker
Privately Owned
Hyundai is privately owned, unlike AutoNation which is under a publicly traded parent company.
AutomotiveInterstate Batteries
Owned by Interstate Battery System of America
American battery distributor founded in 1952, specializing in automotive, commercial, and consumer batteries, headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
batteriesautomotive-batterieslead-acid-batteries
Privately Owned
Interstate Batteries is privately owned, unlike AutoNation which is under a publicly traded parent company.
AutomotiveKia
Owned by Hyundai Motor Group
South Korean automobile manufacturer known for sporty design and value positioning, part of Hyundai Motor Group.
korean-carvalue-brandsporty-design
Privately Owned
Kia is privately owned, unlike AutoNation which is under a publicly traded parent company.
AutomotiveIronman Tires
Owned by Hercules Tire and Rubber Company
Budget tire brand owned by Hercules Tire and Rubber Company, a subsidiary of American Tire Distributors, offering affordable tires for passenger vehicles, light trucks, and commercial vehicles.
tiresbudget-tiresautomotive
Privately Owned
Ironman Tires is privately owned, unlike AutoNation which is under a publicly traded parent company.
AutomotiveCarMax
Owned by CarMax, Inc.
Consumer-facing used vehicle retail brand of CarMax, Inc., the largest used car retailer in the United States with more than 250 stores nationwide.
used-carsauto-retailcarmax
Publicly Traded
CarMax operates independently without a large parent corporation.
AutomotivePenske Automotive
Owned by Penske Automotive Group, Inc.
Flagship automotive retail brand of Penske Automotive Group, operating franchised dealerships across the United States and internationally under the Penske name.
car-dealershipautomotive-retailnew-cars
Publicly Traded
Penske Automotive operates independently without a large parent corporation.
AutoNation, Inc. Stock Information
Jobs at AutoNation, Inc.
Latest News About AutoNation
Related Articles About AutoNation
View more articles
Global
Regional Brands That Got Swallowed by Multinationals
La Serenissima is now Arcor/Danone. Innovist is now L'Oreal. Zabka is being bought by Couche-Tard for $8.6B. S Brands is now Wipro. Discover regional brands swallowed by multinationals. Explore our database.
Who Brands StaffSep 26, 2026
GlobalAcquisitionsBrand Ownership
Global
Why Some Global Brands Have Different Names Abroad
Lay's is Walkers in the UK. Burger King is Hungry Jack's in Australia. KFC is PFK in Quebec. Mr. Clean is Don Limpio in Spain. Discover why global brands have different names abroad. Explore our database.
Who Brands StaffSep 24, 2026
GlobalInternationalBrand Ownership
Global
Brands That Mean Different Things in Different Countries
Fila is premium in Taipei but budget in Europe. Muller yogurt means indulgence in Italy but health in Germany. Starbucks' Tank Day caused boycotts in Korea. Discover brands that mean different things in different countries. Explore our database.
Who Brands StaffSep 23, 2026
GlobalInternationalBrand Ownership
People Also Searched
Discover popular brands and companies in the Automotive category and related searches from other users.
Brandperformance-cars
Abarth
Iconic Italian high-performance automotive brand specializing in sporty variants of Fiat vehicles, known for its racing heritage, distinctive scorpion logo, and recent expansion into electrified performance models.
Brand in Automotive
italian-brandsporty-vehicles
Brandzero-emissions
Accelera
Zero-emissions technology brand of Cummins Inc., covering battery-electric powertrains, fuel cells, and electrolyzers under the Destination Zero strategy.
Brand in Automotive
electric-powertrainfuel-cell
Brandluxury-cars
Acura
Acura is the luxury vehicle division of Honda Motor Company, launched in the United States in 1986. It was the first Japanese luxury automobile brand sold in North America and is currently sold in the USA, Canada, China, and a limited number of other markets.
Brand in Automotive
hondajapanese-brand