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): January 27, 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 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE On January 27, 2003, Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation, announced its plans to conduct a conference call following the release of financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2002. 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 (713) 647-5700 AT Fleishman-Hillard: Investors/Media Russell A. Johnson (713) 513-9515 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2003 GROUP 1 ANNOUNCES CONFERENCE CALL OF 2002 FOURTH-QUARTER AND FULL-YEAR RESULTS HOUSTON, JANUARY 27, 2003--GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. (NYSE: GPI), a Fortune 500 specialty retailer, today announced it plans to conduct a conference call following the release of financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2002. B.B. Hollingsworth Jr., Group 1's chairman, president and chief executive officer, and Scott L. Thompson, executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer, will host the conference call on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time following the release of the company's financial results prior to the market open. The conference call will be simulcast live on the Internet and can be accessed by logging onto www.vcall.com or www.group1auto.com. A replay will be available at these sites for 30 days. A telephonic replay will also be available for 30 days at: United States Dial-in: (800) 405-2236 International Dial-in: (303) 590-3000 Access Code: 520189# ABOUT GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. Group 1 owns 73 automotive dealerships comprised of 112 franchises, 29 different brands, and 24 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 ### 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. January 29, 2003 By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson ---------------- ----------------------------------------- Date Scott L. Thompson, Executive Vice President Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer