RICHMOND, VA - CarMax, Inc., a retailer of used cars, officially opened its first auto superstore in Augusta, Ga. The Augusta CarMax is located at 130 Mason McKnight Jr. Parkway. The store is 13,527 square-feet, employs more than 35 associates and stocks 200 to 300 used vehicles of nearly every make and model.

"We have changed the way consumers buy cars," said Tom Folliard, president and chief executive officer of CarMax. "Augusta area residents now can choose to have a no-hassle, no-haggle, fun and easy car shopping experience at CarMax, the pioneer of the used car superstore."

More than 200 local dignitaries and CarMax associates attended a grand opening preview event at the Augusta location today. The event included a "Road Rally" for charity featuring local television personalities competing in a driving challenge, which included parallel-parking and pack-the-trunk events. CarMax donates $1,000 to each participant’s charity, and the winner’s charity receives an additional $1,000. The Road Rally participants included WRDW-TV sports anchor Matt Barnes, WJBF-TV reporter Fraendy Clervaud, WAGT-TV morning news co-anchor and meteorologist Jay Jeffries and WFXG-TV sports anchor Chris Kane. Organizations that received the donations were the Boys and Girls Clubs of Augusta, Augusta Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross of Augusta and Safe Homes of Augusta.

CarMax opened its first store in Richmond, Va., more than 16 years ago after the company researched thousands of consumers to find out what they liked and disliked about car shopping.

Augusta area residents can also preview CarMax vehicles by logging onto www.carmax.com. The Web site features actual prices and photos of more than 25,000 CarMax vehicles available nationwide. Prospective car buyers can have a vehicle transferred from another CarMax store location to the Augusta store for a fee.