AutoNation

AutoNation is the largest automotive retailer in the United States, operating new-vehicle franchise dealerships and selling vehicles online. It took its present form in 1998, when Republic Industries, the company H. Wayne Huizenga acquired in 1995 and had turned from waste disposal into an automotive group, changed its name to AutoNation, Inc. Before that, Republic bought National Car Rental and Alamo, built a chain of no-haggle used-car superstores under the AutoNation name, spun off its waste business as Republic Services in 1997, and began acquiring new-car dealerships. When the used-car superstores proved unprofitable, new chief executive Michael Jackson announced on December 19, 1999 that 23 of the 29 would close, leaving new-vehicle franchises as the sole business focus. In 2001 the company, a public company traded on the New York Stock Exchange, had more than 370 franchises in 17 states.