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): December 4, 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 5.  Other Events

     On December 4, 2003, Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
announced that John S. Bishop, senior vice president, operations, died in a
boating accident over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The text of the press
release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.



Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits


         (c) Exhibits

              99.1    Press Release of Group 1 Automotive, Inc. dated as of
                      December 4, 2003.








                                   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.



   December 4, 2003              By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
- ---------------------               --------------------------------------------
       Date                         Scott L. Thompson, Executive Vice President,
                                    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer











                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS




Exhibit No.         Description
- -----------         -----------
   99.1             Press Release of Group 1 Automotive, Inc. dated as of
                    December 4, 2003.

EX-99

                                                                  Exhibit 99.1

        Group 1 Automotive Mourns Loss of Operations Executive

    HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 2003--Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
(NYSE:GPI), a Fortune 500 specialty retailer, today announced that
John S. Bishop, senior vice president, operations died in a boating
accident over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
    Bishop, 56, joined Group 1 in September 1998 after a distinguished
25-year career in the automobile industry working with manufacturers
and distributors. Before joining Group 1, he spent 17 years in a
variety of management positions with Houston-based Gulf States Toyota,
an independent distributor of Toyota vehicles, parts and accessories.
Previously, he spent a combined eight years with Ford Motor Company
and Chrysler Corporation.
    B.B. Hollingsworth Jr., Group 1's chairman, president and chief
executive officer, said, "John was a man of impeccable integrity and
an important member of our management team. His experience and
reputation in our industry were well-known and his contributions to
Group 1 were considerable. Our thoughts and prayers are with his
family."
    John Bishop is survived by Charlotte, his wife of 26 years, sons,
Jamie and Hunter, and a daughter, Lauren.
    A memorial service will be held at noon on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003
at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Freeway in Houston.

    About Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

    Group 1 currently owns 74 automotive dealerships comprised of 116
franchises, 30 brands, and 27 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