STAMFORD, Conn., June 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Asbury Automotive Group (NYSE: ABG), one of the largest automotive retailers and service companies in the U.S., today reported that an administrative law judge at the California New Motor Vehicle Board has rendered a decision that may make it impossible for the Company to complete its previously announced acquisition of Bob Baker Auto Group as originally structured.

The proposed decision, which is in the form of a recommendation by the administrative law judge to the California New Motor Vehicle Board, represented a ruling against Bob Baker's position that Ford Motor Company acted unreasonably in withholding consent for Baker's sale of its Ford dealership in San Diego in conjunction with its proposed sale of Bob Baker Auto Group.

Kenneth B. Gilman, Asbury's President & CEO commented, "We are disappointed with the proposed decision. Since the current management team started in December 2001, Asbury's performance at its Ford stores has been better than Ford's overall performance in unit sales. For example, in 2002 and this year to date, six of our seven Ford dealerships have generated sales increases above their respective regions."

About Asbury Automotive Group

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, is one of the largest automobile retailers in the U.S., with 2002 revenues of $4.5 billion. Built through a combination of organic growth and a series of strategic acquisitions, Asbury now operates through nine geographically concentrated, individually branded "platforms." These platforms currently operate 92 retail auto stores, encompassing 132 franchises for the sale and servicing of 35 different brands of American, European and Asian automobiles. Asbury believes that its product mix includes one of the highest proportions of luxury and mid-line import brands among leading public U.S. automotive retailers. The Company offers customers an extensive range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicle sales and related financing and insurance, vehicle maintenance and repair services, replacement parts and service contracts.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements include statements relating to goals, plans, projections and guidance regarding the Company's financial position, results of operations, market position, product development, pending and potential future acquisitions and business strategy. These statements are based on management's current expectations and involve significant risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, market factors, the Company's relationships with vehicle manufacturers and other suppliers, risks associated with the Company's substantial indebtedness, risks related to pending and potential future acquisitions, general economic conditions both nationally and locally and governmental regulations and legislation. There can be no guarantees that the Company's plans for future operations will be successfully implemented or that they will prove to be commercially successful. These and other risk factors are discussed in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K and in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Asbury Automotive Group
-0- 06/10/2003
/CONTACT: Investor, Stacey Yonkus of Asbury Automotive, +1-203-356-4424,
or investor@asburyauto.com; or Media, Tom Pratt of RFBinder Partners,
+1-212-994-7563, or Tom.Pratt@rfbinder.com, for Asbury Automotive Group/
(ABG)

CO: Asbury Automotive Group; Bob Baker Auto Group
ST: Connecticut, California
IN: AUT FIN REA
SU: LAW

MG
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2714 06/10/2003 12:35 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com