The founding dealership owners were Bob Howard of Oklahoma City, Sterling McCall, Kevin Whalen of Houston, and Charles Smith of Beaumont.

[17][18] As of 2021, Group 1 is ranked as the fourth largest automotive retailer in the United States, operating 202 dealerships and representing brands such as BMW, Volkswagen, Ford, Toyota, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, GMC, Nissan, Land Rover, Acura, Buick, Chevrolet, and Lexus among many others.

In the US, Group 1 Automotive has dealerships in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas.

[22][23][24] In 2019, the company created AcceleRide, a digital retailing platform allowing customers to purchase, sell, or arrange service for vehicles online.

[27] With individual dealerships engage in local philanthropic efforts often independent from the corporate office, Group 1 supports Houston-area causes focusing on community outreach and grade school education.