Who Owns Group 1 Automotive?
Group 1 Automotive is the master brand of Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: GPI), a Fortune 250 automotive retailer headquartered in Houston, Texas. Founded in 1997, the brand covers 254 dealerships and 32 collision centers selling 36 auto brands across the US and UK, plus the AcceleRide digital retail platform. Parent FY2025 revenue was a record $22.6 billion.
Parent Company
Founded
1997
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
United StatesOfficial Website
Who Owns Group 1 Automotive?
- Parent Company: Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
- Ownership Type: Brand division
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NYSE: GPI
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 Automotive | Group 1 Automotive, Inc. | Brand division |
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History of Group 1 Automotive
- Founded: 1997
- Founders: Bob Howard, Sterling McCall, Charles Smith, Kevin Whalen
Group 1 Automotive was formed in 1997 by consolidating dealership groups owned by Bob Howard of Oklahoma City, Sterling McCall and Kevin Whalen of Houston, and Charles Smith of Beaumont, Texas. B. B. Hollingsworth served as founding chairman and CEO, and the company went public on the NYSE in October 1997.
The brand grew through continuous acquisition: Gene Messer Automotive Group, Maxwell Auto Group, Ira Motor Group, and Bohn Auto Group among them, building a US network concentrated in the Sun Belt and Northeast. Under Earl Hesterberg's leadership (2005-2022) it expanded into the UK and launched the AcceleRide digital platform in 2019.
Daryl Kenningham became CEO in July 2023. The August 2024 acquisition of Inchcape's UK retail operations roughly doubled the UK footprint, making the business meaningfully transatlantic.
FY2025 marked the brand's best year: record revenue of $22.6 billion (up 13.2%), record gross profit of $3.6 billion, and portfolio rotation that added premium franchises while divesting 13 underperforming stores.
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About Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
What does Group 1 Automotive do?
Group 1 is an automotive retailer operating 254 dealerships in the US and UK. It sells and leases new and used vehicles, arranges financing and insurance, and provides parts, service, and collision repair.
Is Group 1 Automotive publicly traded?
Yes. It trades on the NYSE under ticker GPI and is a component of the S&P SmallCap 600.
Who founded Group 1 Automotive?
The company was formed in 1997 through the consolidation of dealership groups owned by Bob Howard, Sterling McCall, Kevin Whalen, and Charles Smith, with B. B. Hollingsworth as founding chairman and CEO. It went public in October 1997.
Who is the CEO of Group 1 Automotive?
Daryl Kenningham has served as President and CEO since July 2023. Daniel McHenry is CFO.
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What is Group 1's revenue?
Group 1 reported record FY2025 revenue of $22.6 billion, up 13.2% year over year, with record gross profit of $3.6 billion and net income of $325 million.
What is AcceleRide?
AcceleRide is Group 1's digital retail platform, launched in 2019, for buying, selling, and trading vehicles online alongside the physical dealership network.
How many dealerships does Group 1 own?
As of December 31, 2025, Group 1 operated 254 dealerships — 145 in the US across 17 states and 109 in the UK across 62 towns and cities — plus 32 collision centers.
- Founded: 1997
- Headquarters: Houston, Texas, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NYSE: GPI
- Revenue: $22.6 billion (FY2025)
- Employees: approximately 21,000
Where Is Group 1 Automotive Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Houston, Texas, USA
Group 1 Automotive Categories & Tags
Group 1 Automotive Sustainability & Ethics
The brand's sustainability footprint is that of a large retail and service network: facility energy, vehicle fluids and materials handling, and EV-readiness across service operations. The parent publishes a SASB-aligned Corporate Responsibility Report covering workforce, community, and environmental metrics.
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Awards & Recognition
- Fortune 250: Group 1 Automotive is a Fortune 250 company by revenue.
- Record FY2025: Records across all major business lines and in parts and service gross profit.
Group 1 Automotive Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Third-largest US publicly traded auto retailer by revenue
- +Record FY2025 results with 13.2% revenue growth
- +Diversified profit pools anchored by parts and service
- +Aggressive capital returns and portfolio optimization
- +AcceleRide omni-channel reach beyond physical lots
Considerations
- -New-vehicle margin compression is an industry reality
- -UK operations under cost realignment after rapid expansion
- -Franchise agreements bind the network to manufacturer terms
- -F&I revenue is sensitive to interest rates and credit conditions
- -Dealership-level brand identity is fragmented by franchise names
Frequently Asked Questions About Group 1 Automotive
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Sources & Further Reading
Competitors to Group 1 Automotive
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carmax | USA | 1993 | Market leader | United states | All-ages | |
| Sonic Automotive | USA | 2014 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Asbury Automotive | USA | 1995 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Carvana | USA | 2012 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Lithia Motors | USA | 1946 | Market leader | United states | All-ages |
Learn More About Competitors
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
AutomotiveEchoPark
Owned by Sonic Automotive, Inc.
Sonic Automotive's standalone used-car retail brand, operating 18 stores across 10 states with fixed no-haggle pricing on nearly-new pre-owned vehicles.
used-carsauto-retaildealerships
AutomotiveAsbury Automotive
Owned by Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.
Corporate brand of Asbury Automotive Group, the Fortune 500 dealership group operating nearly 200 new-vehicle franchises across 14 states.
automotivecar-dealershipsauto-retail
AutomotiveCarvana
Owned by Carvana Co.
The online used-car retail brand of Carvana Co., selling nearly 600,000 vehicles a year through e-commerce, home delivery, and car vending machines.
used-carse-commerceauto-retail
AutomotiveLithia
Owned by Lithia & Driveway (Lithia Motors, Inc.)
Physical dealership network brand of Lithia Motors, Inc. (Lithia & Driveway), the largest automotive retailer in the world with stores across the US, Canada, and UK.
auto-retaildealershipscar-sales
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Group 1 Automotive competes with 5 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.
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Independent Alternatives to Group 1 Automotive
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Group 1 Automotive, Inc., giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
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.
AutomotivecarVertical
Owned by CV Group (carVertical)
Lithuanian vehicle history company that generates VIN-based reports on used cars across 37 markets, operating as the private company CV Group.
vehicle-historyvin-checkused-cars
Privately Owned
carVertical is privately owned, unlike Group 1 Automotive 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 Group 1 Automotive which is under a publicly traded parent company.
AutomotiveAsbury Automotive
Owned by Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.
Corporate brand of Asbury Automotive Group, the Fortune 500 dealership group operating nearly 200 new-vehicle franchises across 14 states.
automotivecar-dealershipsauto-retail
Publicly Traded
Asbury Automotive operates independently without a large parent corporation.
AutomotiveCape Advanced Vehicles
Owned by Cape Advanced Vehicles (Pty) Ltd
South African boutique manufacturer of Ford GT40-style restomods and the limited-run GT MKII supercar, built in Cape Town since 1999.
gt40restomodsupercar
Privately Owned
Cape Advanced Vehicles is privately owned, unlike Group 1 Automotive which is under a publicly traded parent company.
AutomotiveCarvana
Owned by Carvana Co.
The online used-car retail brand of Carvana Co., selling nearly 600,000 vehicles a year through e-commerce, home delivery, and car vending machines.
used-carse-commerceauto-retail
Publicly Traded
Carvana operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Group 1 Automotive, Inc. Stock Information
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