HOUSTON – Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Fortune 500 specialty retailer, has signed an agreement with American Auto Exchange, Inc. (aaXchange) to install aaXchange's pre-owned inventory management software in Group 1's dealerships.

This specialized software allows automotive dealerships' pre-owned departments to perform current market appraisals, identify single point and dealer group sales trends, and ascertain immediate reporting and buy/sell recommendations.

"The American Auto Exchange software gives us the ability to manage our used vehicle inventory on a real-time basis," said Earl J. Hesterberg, Group 1's president and chief executive officer. "We are convinced that with rapidly changing market demands, this product will enable us to have the right products, at the right price, on the front line at our dealerships. We pilot tested aaXchange in our West Central Region for the past year with impressive results."

Group 1's nationwide roll-out began this week with the full support of the company's recently announced regional vice presidents. In early December, all of Group 1's general mangers will receive a full overview of the product. The company expects the aaXchange software to be installed in the majority of its dealerships by the end of the first quarter of 2006.