Group 1 Automotive UK Sales, Stock, Locations and Ranking 2025

Dealer History

Group 1 was established as a public corporation in 1997. The founding dealership owners were Bob Howard of Oklahoma City, Sterling McCall, Kevin Whalen of Houston, and Charles Smith of Beaumont.

Later, the company acquired the Gene Messer Automotive Group, Maxwell Auto Group, Ira Motor Group, Bohn Auto Group, Pat Peck Auto Group, and Miller Automotive Group. On 1 March 2018, Group 1 bought 5 Mercedes-Benz and 3 Smart dealerships from Robinsons Motor Group.

From 2010 to 2017, the group purchased many dealerships including Think Ford, Elms Group, Barons Group, Chandlers Group, Essex Audi Group, Spire Automotive, and the Beadles Group.

In 2013, Group 1 became the third biggest automotive retailer in the United States. Now it possesses 163 dealerships in 15 states across the US, 18 in Brazil, and 60 across the UK and manages 31 collision centres in the US, Brazil, and the UK.