8-K

                       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 14, 2003


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


                Delaware                                76-0506313
          (State or other jurisdiction of           (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 5.  Other Events

         On October 14, 2003, Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
announced that J. Terry Strange had been elected to the Board of Directors. A
copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated
herein by reference.


Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits


     (c) Exhibits

              99.1      Press Release of Group 1 Automotive, Inc. dated as of
                        October 14, 2003, reporting on the election of J. Terry
                        Strange to the Board of Directors.










                                   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 14, 2003              By:      /s/ Scott L. Thompson
- ---------------------------------   -------------------------------------------
        Date                        Scott L. Thompson, Executive Vice President,
                                    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer






                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS



     (c) Exhibits

              99.1      Press Release of Group 1 Automotive, Inc. dated as of
                        October 14, 2003, reporting on the election of J. Terry
                        Strange to the Board of Directors.

EX-99

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

Group 1 Automotive Elects New Board Member

    HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 14, 2003--Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
(NYSE:GPI), a Fortune 500 specialty retailer, announced today that J.
Terry Strange was elected to the board of directors. His term will
expire in 2004. Strange will replace Kevin Whalen on the board as a
class II director, bringing the number of independent directors on the
seven-member board to five.
    Strange, 59, retired from KPMG, LLP in 2002 as global managing
partner of the firm's audit business, a member of its international
executive committee, vice chairman of KPMG and managing partner of its
U.S. audit practice after a 34-year career. His work included
interaction with the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the
Securities and Exchange Commission, testifying before both bodies on
issues impacting the auditing profession and SEC registrants. Strange
also serves on the boards of directors of Compass Bancshares, Inc.,
New Jersey Resources Corporation and BearingPoint, Inc.
    "Terry Strange is an important addition to our board," said B.B.
Hollingsworth Jr., Group 1's chairman, president and chief executive
officer. "Group 1's stockholders will benefit from his financial and
accounting expertise, as well as his management and leadership
skills."
    Whalen, platform president of the Sterling McCall Automotive Group
and a co-founder of Group 1, has decided to resign as director in
order to allow additional independent directors to serve on the board.
"Kevin will be missed as a board member but will remain a strong
influence as he continues his role as president of our Houston
platform," commented Hollingsworth.

    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.

    CONTACT: AT GROUP 1:
             B.B. Hollingsworth, Jr., 713-647-5700
             or
             Scott L. Thompson, 713-647-5700
             or
             Kim Paper, 713-647-5700
             or
             AT Fleishman Hillard:
             Investors/Media
             Russell A. Johnson, 713-513-9515