Who Owns AutoNation Finance?

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.