Building America's Largest Automotive Retailer
AutoNation's roots trace back to 1996, when current Chairman H. Wayne Huizenga invested in an Atlanta-based waste management company that later became Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Republic Industries, Inc. Republic Industries would go on to acquire most of the more than 327 new vehicle franchises the Company operates today, as well as several waste management and vehicle rental companies, before changing its name on April 6, 1999 to "AutoNation, Inc."

From Conglomerate to Pure-Play
AutoNation parted with its past as a diversified conglomerate when on September 24, 1999 it hired Mike Jackson as its new Chief Executive Officer. Today, the Company is the largest, pure-play automotive retail company in America. Together with President and Chief Operating Officer Michael E. Maroone and Chief Financial Officer Michael J. Short, Jackson has created a specialty retail company with a Driven to be the Best vision for automotive retail.

Key Milestones

April 6, 1999: Republic Industries, Inc. becomes AutoNation, Inc.

August 2, 1999: Michael E. Maroone becomes AutoNation's President and Chief Operating Officer.

September 24, 1999: Mike Jackson becomes AutoNation's Chief Executive Officer.

November 8, 1999: AutoNation announces its exit from the vehicle rental business. The spin off of Alamo Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental publicly-traded ANC Rental Corp. is completed on June 30, 2000.

December 23, 1999: AutoNation exits the used vehicle megastore business, closing its AutoNation USA stores. This leaves the Company focused on its largest business -- the 370 dealership franchises it owns and operates in 17 states.

December 26, 1999: AutoNation builds on its local-market branding strategy by launching the brand for its Tampa Bay, Fla. dealerships. AutoWay is AutoNation's first local-market brand effort after the year-earlier launch of in Denver.

April 26, 2000: Craig T. Monaghan becomes AutoNation's Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President.

May 10, 2000:  AutoNation purchases AutoVantage from Cendant (Recently changed the name from AutoVantage to AutoUSA)

July 12, 2000: AutoNation debuts its current logo, which features the yellow and white wayfinder icon.

July 15, 2000: The local-market brand is launched for 26 AutoNation-owned dealerships in South Florida.

November 1, 2000:  AutoNation launches Payroll Consolidation Program

December 25, 2000: The brand is launched for AutoNation-owned dealerships in Las Vegas.

January 31, 2001: MSN Carpoint announces AutoNation will begin management of the automotive web site's dealership network.

May 15, 2001: The brand is launched for AutoNation-owned dealerships in Jacksonville, Fla.

August 1, 2001: AutoNation launches its first-ever senior note offering, a $450 million private placement that introduces the automotive retailer to the bond market.

August 20, 2001: AutoNation launches AutoNation University with its first-ever General Manager Training Program, a program that introduces new store general managers to the Company's best practices.

October 31, 2001: ESL Investments, Inc. becomes AutoNation's single largest shareholder, establishing a 24% stake in the Company.

December 26, 2001: AutoNation launches local-market brands in Atlanta , Orlando and Memphis .

January 29, 2002: AutoNation Appoints Edward S. Lampert, William C. Crowley to the company’s Board of Directors. Both are principals of ESL Investments, AutoNation’s largest shareholder.

June 12, 2002: AutoNation announces two major developments for “Maroone,” its South Florida retail brand: $10 million in capital improvements for its stores on Miami’s “Calle Ocho” and the selection of Latin recording artist Willy Chirino as the brand’s first spokesman for Spanish-language media.

August 14, 2002: CEO Mike Jackson and CFO Craig T. Monaghan signed and filed sworn statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") affirming the Company's SEC reports in accordance with a June 27, 2002 order issued by the SEC requiring approximately 950 large public companies to certify the accuracy of their financial reports. Jackson and Monaghan also signed a separate letter certifying the Company's Form 10-Q for the second quarter ended June 30, 2002 under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which was signed recently into law by President Bush.

Sept 19, 2002: Mike Jackson named chairman-elect of AutoNation Inc., effective January 1, 2003. Wayne Huizenga to retire from chairman’s post at year-end 2002.

January 15, 2003: AutoNation receives 2002 ‘Global Shareholder Value Award’ from Automotive News, PricewaterhouseCoopers. This award recognizes excellence in shareholder value creation over one and three-year periods among, manufacturers, suppliers and retailers.

January 20, 2003: AutoNation and NADA (National Automobile Dealers Association) announce plans to explore opportunities to work jointly on issues affecting the automotive retail industry. To mark the announcement, more than 400 AutoNation executives signed the NADA’s recently updated Code of Ethics for automobile retailers.

February 19, 2003: AutoNation Inc. added to the S&P 500 Index. Standard & Poor’s confirms the important role that automotive retailers play in the U.S. economy.

February 19, 2003: AutoNation is named ‘America’s Most Admired’ Automotive Retailing & Services Company for a second consecutive year by Fortune magazine paying tribute to the way in which our associates across the country are driven to be the best.

March 3, 2003: AutoNation announces that it has reached a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") with respect to the tax treatment of certain transactions entered into by the Company in 1997 and 1999, eliminating the uncertainty associated with the tax consequences of these transactions.

May 2, 2003: Launch of (Southern California) and (Houston /Corpus Christi) brands.

May 6, 2003: AutoNation appoints KPMG LLP as independent auditor for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2003. KPMG LLP replaces Deloitte & Touche who ended efforts to separate its audit and consulting businesses. Deloitte & Touch continues to provide consulting services to AN.

December 3, 2003:  Automotive Hall Of Fame selects Mike J. Jackson 2003 Automotive Industry Leader of the Year.

February, 2004:  Fortune America's Most Admired - AutoNation Ranked #1 (Industry Champion) Third consecutive year on the "Most Admired List."

March, 2004: Fortune 500 - AutoNation #97.  Second consecutive year on the Top 100 List.

March 31, 2004:  The Company completed the acquisition of the following three automotive retail franchises:  Leesburg Honda (Lessburg, VA), Leesburg Toyota (Leesburg, VA) and Glauser Mercedes-Benz (Sarasota, FL)

May 12, 2004:  Power Chevrolet Irvine named 2003 GM Dealer of the Year.  In recognition for outstanding performance in automotive retailing, Power Chevrolet Irvine is named by General Motors as a 2003 dealer of the Year.  The award is a rare achievement, given to just 110 of the more than 7,500 authorized GM dealerships nationwide. 

June 15, 2004:  "Champion Joins Champion" Houston Astros star and future Hall Of Fame member Roger Clemens has signed a long-term agreement to become the exclusive spokesperson for Champion Automotive Group, Texas' largest network of automotive retail stores.

June 30, 2004:  The Company completed the acquisition of the following two (2) automotive retail franchises:  John Roberts BMW and MINI (Dallas/Fort Worth, TX)

July 12, 2004:  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mike Jackson was named to the Automotive News list of industry "All-Stars" for the fourth time in the last eight years.

July 29, 2004:  Taking the lead among automotive retailers and seeking to ensure that its customers have a positive shopping experience, AutoNation, Inc. unveiled  "The AutoNation Pledge."  The Pledge is a document that explains certain rights customers have during the vehicle financing process and clearly states the company's commitment to them.  Every customer will receive a copy of this pledge.

September 9, 2004:  AutoNation Announces Streamlined Regional Management Structure. 
AutoNation consolidated its ten districts into five regions, each led by a regional president.  Jim Bender became president of the Florida region; Todd Maul became president of the West Central region; Jerry Heuer became president of the California region; Dan Agnew, became president of the Texas region; and Hank Phillips became president of The East Central region.

January 19, 2005:  AutoNation Inc. is recognized for its total shareholder return performance over the past three years with the ‘PricewaterhouseCoopers and Automotive News Global Shareholder Value Awards.’

February 3, 2005:  New Stock High – AutoNation shares rose 77 cents Thursday, February 3, 2005 at a 6-½ year high of $19.74.

February 22, 2005: FORTUNE – America’s Most Admired – AutoNation Ranked #1 - Automotive Retailing & Services Company (Industry Champion) - fourth Consecutive year!

February 28, 2005:  AutoNation Celebrates Sale of 5 Millionth Vehicle, an unprecedented achievement in automotive retail sales history.

March 15, 2005:  AutoNation launches POWER  brand in Phoenix.  Among those stores taking the new name are Lou Grubb, Brown and Brown, Petrie and Tempe brands.  This creates one of the largest automotive retail groups in Arizona.

March 22, 2005: AutoNation is invited to Ring The Bell at the NYSE. 

 

Left to right (Bob Dwors, Senior Vice President, Corporate Real Estate, John Zimmerman, Vice President, Investor Relations, Catherine R. Kinney, President, NYSE, Mike Jackson (Center) Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Craig Monaghan, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Marc Cannon, Vice President, Corporate Communications.

June 15, 2005:  AutoNation Receives Investment Grade Rating From Fitch Ratings

July 27, 2005:   Michael E. Maroone, President and Chief Operating Officer of AutoNation, is appointed to the Board of Directors of AutoNation.  With Mr. Maroon'es appointment, the Board of Directors now consists of eight members.

February 8, 2006: AutoNation to Acquire Autohaus Mercedes-Benz.  The acquisition of Autohaus Mercedes-Benz, which is located in Broward County, is expect to close in the first quarter of 2006.

 March 7, 2006:  AutoNation, Inc. Announces Intention To Commence A Cash Tender Offer To Purchase 50 Million Shares Of Its Common Stock At A Price of $23 Per Share.

April 20, 2006:  AutoNation Dominates Ward's e-Dealer 100 Ranking (32 Dealerships)

April 27, 2006:  AutoNation reports 1st quarter Earnings of $0.37 pr share, premium luxury revenue has grown to 22 percent   from 11 percent in 1999.

May 1, 2006:  Tousley Ford Celebrates 50th Anniversary

June 20, 2006:  AutoNation Listing on the Ward's Dealer 500 List (107 Dealerships)

September 26, 2006:  H. Wayne Huizenga named to Automotive Hall of Fame

December 1, 2006:  Mike Jackson named South Florida CEO of the Year

December 11, 2006:  Denver John ElwayOperations to be rebranded "GO" 

January 4, 2007:   AutoNation names Chief Financial Officer:  Effective January 15, 2007, Michael J. Short is appointed as executive vice president and chief financial officer.

January 29, 2007:   Mike Jackson meets with President Bush and members of Securing America's Future Energy.

March 5, 2007:  AutoNation Named Most Admired Auto Retailer 2007 -  Company makes retail history with sale of 6 millionth vehicle

April 5, 2007: AutoNation Introduces Fuel Efficient E-Vehicle Program  

June 12, 2007:  Wards Dealer 500 - AutoNation dominates the list with 116 stores listed