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): March 5, 2004 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 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE On March 5, 2004, Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation, announced that executive management will make a presentation at the Third Annual Stephens Inc. Automotive Retailing Industry Conference on Thursday, March 11, 2004. The text of the press release is set forth below: NEWS RELEASE GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE INC 950 Echo Lane, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77024 AT GROUP 1: Chairman, President and CEO B.B. Hollingsworth, Jr. (713) 647-5700 EVP, CFO and Treasurer Scott L. Thompson (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 FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2004 GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE TO PRESENT AT STEPHENS CONFERENCE HOUSTON, MARCH 5, 2004--GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. (NYSE: GPI), a Fortune 500 specialty retailer, announced that executive management will present at the Third Annual Stephens Inc. Automotive Retailing Industry Conference being held in New York at 8:50 a.m. EST on Thursday, March 11, 2004. The presentation will cover Group 1's financial results and an overview of company strategies. A copy of the presentation will be available on Group 1's Web site at www.group1auto.com. ABOUT GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. Group 1 currently owns 80 automotive dealerships comprised of 122 franchises, 30 brands, and 29 collision service centers located in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, 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 In accordance with General Instruction B.2. of Form 8-K, the information contained in such press release shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing. 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. March 5, 2004 By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson --------------------------- -------------------------------------------- Date Scott L. Thompson, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer