# Sonic Automotive

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American automotive retailing company

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Sonic Automotive, Inc. Type Public Traded as NYSE: SAH (Class A) S&P 600 component Industry Automotive Founded 1 January 1997 Founder Ollen Bruton Smith Key people David Smith (Chairman of the Board) (CEO)[1] Jeff Dyke (President)[1] Heath Byrd (CFO)[1] Number of employees 10,200[2] (2021)

**Sonic Automotive** is a [Fortune 500](/source/Fortune_500) company based in [Charlotte, North Carolina](/source/Charlotte%2C_North_Carolina), and is the fifth largest automotive retailer in the United States as measured by total revenues.[3] The company was founded by [O Bruton Smith](/source/Bruton_Smith) and completed its initial public offering on the NYSE in 1997.

Sonic Automotive operates in 24 states with more than 100 [dealerships](/source/Dealerships) representing over 25 different brands of [automobiles](/source/Automobiles). The [dealerships](/source/Car_dealership) market new and used cars, replacement parts and vehicle maintenance, as well as collision repair services.[4]

## History

Sonic Automotive was launched as a public company in November 1997 by [O Bruton Smith](/source/Bruton_Smith). At the time, the company had 20 stores, representing 15 brands and several hundred employees.[4] The Smith family holds over 30% of the total shares outstanding but has over 80% of the voting power[5] because of a [dual-class structure](/source/Share_class) with [Super-voting stock](/source/Super-voting_stock).

Sonic ranked 300th on the 2022 [Fortune 500](/source/Fortune_500) list.[6] The company also is a member of the Russell 2000 Index.[7]

## EchoPark Automotive

"EchoPark" redirects here. For other uses, see [Echo Park (disambiguation)](/source/Echo_Park_(disambiguation)).

Sonic Automotive owns EchoPark Automotive, a [used car](/source/Used_car) dealership chain also based in Charlotte.[8] EchoPark allows customers to look up competitors' prices on mobile devices located throughout the stores.[8]

The first EchoPark location opened in the [Thornton](/source/Thornton%2C_Colorado) area of [Denver, Colorado](/source/Denver%2C_Colorado) in 2014. A location in [Centennial](/source/Centennial%2C_Colorado) was later opened along with a store in [Colorado Springs](/source/Colorado_Springs%2C_Colorado). In September 2017, EchoPark purchased driversselect,[9] a [Dallas](/source/Dallas%2C_Texas) area dealership, which is now part of the EchoPark brand. EchoPark Automotive operates in 21 states across the United States with over 40 locations as of September 2021.[10]

EchoPark facilities are constructed with sustainable building technologies and some locations are LEED certified.[11]

## Sales and acquisitions

In 2001, Sonic made its entrance into the [Oklahoma City](/source/Oklahoma_City) market with the purchase of Boyd [Chevrolet](/source/Chevrolet) and Steve Bailey [Honda](/source/American_Honda_Motor_Company).[12]

In 2002, Sonic acquired the sixteen-location Michigan-based Don Massey Dealerships. This brought the company to 134 total locations, making it the second-largest automotive retailer at the time. The acquisition also brought Sonic to 23 total [Cadillac](/source/Cadillac) dealerships, representing between 5-7% of the brand's total revenue.[13]

In July 2003, Sonic agreed to purchase eighteen dealerships, including the Momentum Automotive Group in Houston, Texas. Sonic's presence in the Houston area had traditionally been with domestic brands, but the acquisition of Momentum added [BMW](/source/BMW), [Jaguar](/source/Jaguar_Land_Rover), and [Audi](/source/Audi) brands to the companies portfolio. This sale also represented the first direct acquisition of a [Saturn](/source/Saturn_Corporation) franchise by a retail automotive group, with the purchase of two [Bay Area](/source/San_Francisco_Bay_Area) Saturn stores.[14]

Sonic purchased two dealerships from PPE Houston in January 2007. The acquisition of the [Land Rover](/source/Land_Rover) and Jaguar stores brought Sonic to 173 franchises and 37 collision repair centers.[15]

Sonic halted its acquisition strategy during the [Great Recession](/source/Great_Recession) but returned to acquiring new locations in order to drive growth in 2013.[16]

In November 2014, Sonic traded one of its Don Massey Cadillac locations in Lone Tree, CO, to the [Denver](/source/Denver%2C_Colorado)-based [John Elway](/source/John_Elway) Automotive Group in exchange for the John Elway [Chevrolet](/source/Chevrolet) location and the associated real estate. The trade came about as a way for the brand to acquire a strong-performing Chevrolet franchise, as well as a plot of land beside the dealership on which the new Murray Imports [BMW](/source/BMW) location could be built.[17][18]

Sonic purchased the four AutoMatch USA used car locations in [Florida](/source/Florida) and [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(U.S._State)) in 2016. These locations were re-branded under Sonic's EchoPark brand.[19]

In October 2017, Sonic sold its Capitol [Chevrolet](/source/Chevrolet) & [Hyundai](/source/Hyundai_Motor_Company) franchise in [Columbia, SC](/source/Columbia%2C_South_Carolina) to the Stivers Automotive Group.

In May 2018, Sonic sold its Lone Star [Ford](/source/Ford_Motor_Company) franchise in [Houston, TX](/source/Houston%2C_Texas) to the Doggett Auto Group.[20] The store was renamed Doggett Ford and moved into a new facility alongside Doggett's John Deere equipment dealership.[21]

Sonic sold two dealerships to Graham Holdings in February 2019. The [Lexus](/source/Lexus) of [Rockville](/source/Rockville%2C_Maryland) store was renamed Ourisman Lexus of Rockville, as Graham has partnered with Chris Ourisman, president of the Ourisman Auto Group, to manage the locations. The Honda location in [Vienna, Virginia](/source/Vienna%2C_Virginia), has been renamed Ourisman Honda of Tysons Corner.[22]

In December 2021, Sonic acquired RFJ Auto Partners, a top 15 dealership group with approximately $3.2 billion in total annual revenues, adding 33 locations in six states to the Sonic Automotive portfolio.[23]

Sonic acquired two franchises throughout 2022, the first being Sun Chevrolet in [Chittenango, New York](/source/Chittenango%2C_New_York) coming in January,[24] and the second, Audi [Owings Mills](/source/Owings_Mills%2C_Maryland) coming aboard in August.[25]

In February 2023, Sonic Automotive acquired the Black Hills [Harley-Davidson](/source/Harley-Davidson) franchise in [Rapid City, South Dakota](/source/Rapid_City%2C_South_Dakota), home of the [Sturgis Motorcycle Rally](/source/Sturgis_Motorcycle_Rally).[26] The Audi of New Orleans dealership was added to the Sonic portfolio in December of 2024.[27]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Sonic-ExecTeam_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Sonic-ExecTeam_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Sonic-ExecTeam_1-2) ["Executive Team | Sonic Automotive"](http://www.sonicautomotive.com/executive-team.htm). *sonicautomotive.com*. March 17, 2014. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140318050803/http://www.sonicautomotive.com/executive-team.htm) from the original on March 18, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC. FORM 10-K"](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000104350922000004/sah-20211231.htm). *SEC*. Retrieved 2022-09-08.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Automotive News Top 150 Dealership Groups 2022"](https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/crain/an3245837562PLINN_supp/index.php?CSAuthResp=1662651214239%3A0%3A489852%3A20957%3A24%3Asuccess%3A18B8AD03CDF8C387A0CBAE561D968F80&CSAuthToken=489852%7C1662651514239%7C20F74F1B61B27927A22AE54E49DDD6CB#/p/Intro). *autonews.com*. Crain Communications. Retrieved April 4, 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-sonicautomotive.com_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-sonicautomotive.com_4-1) ["About Sonic Automotive"](https://ir.sonicautomotive.com/company-information).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Sonic Automotive Definitive Proxy Statement"](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000104350922000005/def14aproxy2022.htm). *www.sec.gov*. Retrieved 2022-09-08.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Sonic Automotive Fortune 500 Ranking"](https://fortune.com/company/sonic-automotive/fortune500/). *Fortune*. Retrieved 2022-09-08.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["FTSE Russell"](http://www.russell.com/indexes/). 13 June 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wsj_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wsj_8-1) Rogers, Christina (18 August 2014). ["Sonic Automotive to Start Used-Car Dealership Chain"](https://www.wsj.com/articles/sonic-automotive-to-start-used-car-dealership-chain-1408335055). *Wall Street Journal*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Public groups adjust plans for selling used"](http://edit.autonews.com/article/20180507/retail/180509863/&template=print&nocache=1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Investor Relations"](https://ir.sonicautomotive.com/). *Sonic Automotive, Inc*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Wilson, Amy (15 August 2014). ["Sonic details EchoPark store plans"](http://www.autonews.com/article/20140818/RETAIL/140819905/sonic-details-plans-for-used-car-network).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Sonic Automotive Arrives Chain adding dealerships in metro area"](https://oklahoman.com/article/2760918/sonic-automotive-arrives-chain-adding-dealerships-in-metro-area). 2 November 2001.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Sonic Automotive Acquires Chain of 16 Car Dealerships"](https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1011114070410661720). *Wall Street Journal*. 16 January 2002.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC. ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF 18 DEALERSHIPS"](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000119312503026942/dex991.htm) (Press release).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Sonic buys Houston dealerships"](https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2007/01/22/daily52.html). *Charlotte Business Journal*. 2007-01-26. Retrieved 2022-06-23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Sonic switches strategies, returns to acquisition mode"](https://www.autonews.com/article/20130114/RETAIL07/301149951/sonic-switches-strategies-returns-to-acquisition-mode). 11 January 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Real Estate Drives Sonic - Elway Trade"](http://www.thebanksreport.com/dealership-buysells/sonic-elway-trade-stores/). 17 December 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Elway, Massey auto dealerships trade ownership of Denver-area lots - Denver Business Journal"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150723063712/http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/morning_call/2014/12/denver-area-auto-dealerships-trade-ownership.html). Archived from [the original](https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/morning_call/2014/12/denver-area-auto-dealerships-trade-ownership.html) on 2015-07-23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Sonic takes EchoPark into Fla., Ga. With acquisition"](https://www.autonews.com/article/20161028/RETAIL/161029821/sonic-takes-echopark-into-fla-ga-with-acquisition). 28 October 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Leslie Doggett Industries scoops up Lone Star Ford from Sonic Automotive"](https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2018/05/02/houston-private-co-buys-ford-dealership-from-sonic.html).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Doggett enters car business"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190627162751/https://theleadernews.com/doggett-enters-car-business/). *theleadernews.com*. Archived from [the original](https://theleadernews.com/doggett-enters-car-business/) on 2019-06-27.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Sonic Automotive sells 2 dealerships to Graham Holdings"](https://www.autoremarketing.com/retail/sonic-automotive-sells-2-dealerships-graham-holdings). 4 February 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["Sonic Automotive Announces Completion of RFJ Auto Partners Acquisition"](https://ir.sonicautomotive.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/269/sonic-automotive-announces-completion-of-rfj-auto-partners). *Sonic Automotive, Inc*. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 2022-09-08.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Sonic Automotive Continues Expansion of its Franchised Dealership Network with the Acquisition of Sun Chevrolet"](https://ir.sonicautomotive.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/274/sonic-automotive-continues-expansion-of-its-franchised). 18 January 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["Sonic Automotive Acquires Audi Owings Mills in Maryland, Continuing the Expansion of its Franchised Dealership Network"](https://ir.sonicautomotive.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/292/sonic-automotive-acquires-audi-owings-mills-in-maryland). 17 August 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** ["Sonic Automotive Announces Acquisition of Black Hills Harley-Davidson, Home of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally"](https://ir.sonicautomotive.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/301/sonic-automotive-announces-acquisition-of-black-hills). 15 February 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** ["Sonic Automotive Announces Acquisition of Audi New Orleans"](https://ir.sonicautomotive.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/324/sonic-automotive-announces-acquisition-of-audi-new-orleans). 12 December 2024.

## External links

- [Sonic Automotive](http://www.sonicautomotive.com/)

- [EchoPark Automotive](https://www.echopark.com/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sonic Automotive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_Automotive) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_Automotive?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.