SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 7, 2003


                            Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)







           Delaware                        1-13461                76-0506313
(State or other jurisdiction of   (Commission File Number)     (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)




                            950 Echo Lane, Suite 100
                              Houston, Texas 77024
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

                                 (713) 647-5700
               (Registrant's telephone number including area code)





Item 9.  Regulation FD Disclosure

     On October 7, 2003, Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
announced plans to conduct a conference call following the release of financial
results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2003. The text of the press
release is set forth below:

NEWS RELEASE                                              GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE INC



                                    950 Echo Lane, Suite 100, Houston, TX  77024
                                                                      
AT GROUP 1:             Chairman, President and CEO   B.B. Hollingsworth, Jr. (713) 647-5700
                        EVP, CFO and Treasurer        Scott L. Thompson       (713) 647-5700
                        Manager, Investor Relations   Kim Paper               (713) 647-5700

AT Fleishman-Hillard:   Investors/Media               Russell A. Johnson      (713) 513-9515




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, OCT. 7, 2003

                     GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE ANNOUNCES WEBCAST OF
                           2003 THIRD-QUARTER RESULTS

HOUSTON, Oct. 7, 2003--Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: GPI), a Fortune 500
specialty retailer, today announced it plans to conduct a conference call
following the release of financial results for the third quarter ended Sept. 30,
2003. B.B. Hollingsworth Jr., Group 1's chairman, president and chief executive
officer, and Scott L. Thompson, executive vice president, chief financial
officer and treasurer, will host the conference call on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2003,
at 11 a.m. EST following the release of the company's financial results prior to
the market open.

The conference call will be simulcast live on the Internet and can be accessed
by logging onto www.vcall.com, or www.group1auto.com. A replay will be available
at these sites for 30 days.

A telephonic replay will be available following the call through Nov. 30, 2003
by dialing: 800-405-2236 (domestic) or 303-590-3000 (international), passcode:
554842#.


About Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

Group 1 currently owns 71 automotive dealerships comprised of 112 franchises, 29
brands, and 25 collision service centers located in California, Colorado,
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
Through its dealerships and Internet sites, the Company sells new and used cars
and light trucks; arranges related financing, vehicle service and insurance
contracts; provides maintenance and repair services; and sells replacement
parts.

   Group 1 Automotive can be reached on the Internet at www.group1auto.com

                                   -30-




     In accordance  with General  Instruction  B.2. of Form 8-K, the information
contained in this report shall not be deemed  "filed" for purposes of Section 18
of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed  incorporated by
reference in any filing  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  except as shall be
expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.



                                Group 1 Automotive, Inc.



   October 8, 2003              By:  /s/Scott L. Thompson
- -------------------------          ---------------------------------------------
         Date                      Scott L. Thompson, Executive Vice President,
                                   Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer