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AutoNation
Company History: 1996-2000
AutoNation traces its roots to the waste disposal and vehicle rental businesses. Entrepreneur H. Wayne Huizenga invested in a Florida-based waste management company called Republic Industries Inc., which purchased hundreds of new vehicle franchises and was renamed AutoNation Inc., on April 6, 1999.
Aug. 2, 1999 - AutoNation promotes veteran employee Michael Maroone to president and chief operating officer.
Sept. 24, 1999 - Mike Jackson, the top executive at Mercedes-Benz, replaces Mr. Huizenga as chief executive officer. Mr Huizenga remains on the board as chairman of the company.
Dec. 23, 1999 - AutoNation closes its used car retail superstores and lays-off nearly all retail employees as the company exits the used car business to focus instead on selling new cars. AutoNation operates 370 new vehicle dealership franchises in 17 states.
Nov. 8, 1999 - AutoNation announces its exit from the vehicle rental business. The company operates Alamo Rent-A-Car and National Rental Car.
June 30, 2000 - The spin-off of AutoNation's vehicle rental businesses into a separate, publicly traded company, ANC Rental Corp., is complete.
Annual Reports
1999
AutoNation's 1999 annual report details the company's increasing debt and discusses the reasons for the company's change in retail focus.
1997
Republic Industries Inc. 1997 Annual Report
Press Releases
AutoNation Unveils Virtual Dealership, June 22, 1999
AutoNation Acquires Profitable Dealerships, July 8, 1999
AutoNation Launches Nationwide Branding Initiative, Oct. 6, 1999
Tampa Bay Will Be Next Market For No-Haggle Shopping, Oct. 28, 1999
AutoNation To Exit Used Vehicle Business, Dec. 13, 1999
Virtual Dealership Hits $1 Billion In Sales, Dec. 23, 1999
Branding Plan Will Link E-Commerce With Regional Markets, July 13, 2000
Company Website: http://corp.autonation.com/about/profile.asp