8-K

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                       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) April 6, 1999


                                AUTONATION, INC. 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                    DELAWARE
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                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


               1-13107                                    73-1105145
    -----------------------------             ---------------------------------
      (Commission File Number)                (IRS Employer Identification No.)


                               110 S.E. 6TH STREET
                          FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA 33301
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          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)


        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (954)769-6000


                            REPUBLIC INDUSTRIES, INC.
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          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


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ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

         On April 6, 1999, Republic Industries, Inc. announced that it has
changed its corporate name to "AutoNation, Inc." The registrant changed its
corporate name to indicate its intent to focus exclusively on the automotive
retail and rental businesses.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

         (a)  Not applicable

         (b)  Not applicable

         (c)  Exhibits

              The exhibits to this Report are listed in the Exhibit Index set
forth elsewhere herein.


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                                   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 hereunto duly authorized.


                                             AUTONATION, INC.

                                             By: /s/ James O. Cole 
                                                 -----------------------------
                                                 James O. Cole
                                                 Senior Vice President,
                                                 General Counsel and Secretary

Dated: April 6, 1999


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                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

      EXHIBIT                        EXHIBIT
      NUMBER                        DESCRIPTION
      ------                        -----------

         99.1         Press release dated April 6, 1999.

EX-99.1

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

REPUBLIC INDUSTRIES, INC. BECOMES AUTONATION, INC.

New Name an Important Step Forward in Building National Auto Retail Brand

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Republic Industries, Inc.,
America's largest automotive retailer, announced today that it has changed its
corporate name to "AutoNation, Inc." The move signals the Company's intent to
make the "AutoNation" brand the pre-eminent national retail name in automotive
sales, service and rental.

Co-Chief Executive Officer Steven R. Berrard said the "AutoNation" name
underscores the Company's intent to focus its efforts exclusively on the
automotive retail and rental businesses. The new name will also support the
Company's efforts to transform its network of automotive dealerships into a
national retail operation that shares support staff, best practices and
operating processes.

"This is all part of our rapid and continuing development as a national retailer
and marketer," said Mr. Berrard. "Just 27 months ago, we set out to partner with
many of the leading automotive retailers in America. Today, we have a national
network of 380 franchised automotive dealerships. Now the time has come to put
it all together under a national retail brand that stands for trust, innovation,
value and service."

With the announcement, the Company's two key operating groups will be known as
the "AutoNation Retail Group" and the "AutoNation Rental Group." The Company's
used vehicle megastores will continue to do business as "AutoNation USA"
megastores. Working with manufacturers, the Company's franchised automotive
dealerships are expected to adopt the sub-brand, "An AutoNation Company." The
Company's three automotive rental brands -- Alamo Rent-A-Car, National Car
Rental and CarTemps USA -- will also adopt the sub-brand. The Company's New York
Stock Exchange trading symbol changes to "AN," effective with the opening of
trading today.

Separately, AutoNation's 1998 revenues of $17.5 billion ranked it 83rd on the
1999 Fortune 500 list of America's largest companies, 68 places higher than a
year earlier.

AutoNation, Inc. is the world's largest automotive retailer with more than 380
new vehicle franchises in 20 states and 45 AutoNation USA used vehicle
megastores in 13 states. Its automotive rental units include Alamo Rent-A-Car,
Inc., National Car Rental Systems, Inc. and CarTemps USA, which combined have
operations nationally and in more than 65 countries.


SOURCE  AUTONATION, INC.
CO: REPUBLIC INDUSTRIES, INC.; AUTONATION, INC.