SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 5, 2002


                            GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


           Delaware                                               76-0506313
(State or other jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.)


                            950 Echo Lane, Suite 100
                              Houston, Texas 77024
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

                                 (713) 647-5700
               (Registrant's telephone number including area code)





ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS


     (c) Exhibits

              99.1      Press Release of Group 1 Automotive, Inc. dated as of
                        September 5, 2002 reporting on new Nissan franchise.

ITEM 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

         On September 5, 2002, Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
announced that it had been awarded a Nissan franchise in the Woodland Hills area
of Los Angeles. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1
and is incorporated herein by reference. In accordance with General Instruction
B.2. of Form 8-K, the information contained in such press release shall not be
deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the
Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific
reference in such a filing.





                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


                                       Group 1 Automotive, Inc.



September 6, 2002                      By: /s/ Scott L. Thompson
----------------------------------        --------------------------------------
     Date                                 Scott L. Thompson, Executive Vice
                                          President, Chief Financial Officer and
                                          Treasurer





                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS




Exhibit No.       Description
-----------       -----------
               
   99.1           Press Release of Group 1 Automotive, Inc. dated as of
                  September 5, 2002 reporting on new Nissan franchise.