NEWS RELEASE 950 Echo Lane, Suite 100 Houston, TX 77024

AT GROUP 1:	President and CEO	Earl J. Hesterberg, Jr.	(713) 647-5700
	SVP, CFO and Treasurer	Robert T. Ray	(713) 647-5700
	Manager, Investor Relations	Kim Paper Canning	(713) 647-5700
AT Fleishman-Hillard:	Investors/Media	Russell A. Johnson	(713) 513-9515

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2005

GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE ANNOUNCES RELEASE AND WEBCAST OF
2005 FIRST-QUARTER RESULTS

HOUSTON, April 14, 2005 — Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: GPI), a Fortune 500 specialty retailer, announced that it plans to release financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2005, prior to the market open on Wednesday, May 4. Executive management will host a conference call to discuss the results later that morning at 10 a.m. EDT.

The conference call will be simulcast live on the Internet at www.group1auto.com through the Investor Relations section. A replay will be available for 30 days.

A telephonic replay will be available following the call through May 11, by dialing: 800-405-2236 (domestic) or 303-590-3000 (international), with passcode: 11028624#.

About Group 1 Automotive, Inc.
Group 1 owns 96 automotive dealerships comprised of 142 franchises, 33 brands and 32 collision service centers located in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, 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.