Penske Automotive Reports Fourth Quarter Results

February 17, 2009

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: PAG), an international automotive retailer, today reported an adjusted fourth quarter loss from continuing operations of $2.0 million, or $0.02 per share. This compares to adjusted income from continuing operations of $32.0 million, or $0.34 per share, in the fourth quarter last year.

As more fully described in the attached tables, the Company recorded after-tax charges of $502.4 million, or $5.52 per share, during the fourth quarter of 2008. These charges include: a $493.1 million, or $5.42 per share, non-cash intangible asset impairment charge recorded pursuant to SFAS No. 142; $5.8 million, or $0.06 per share, of dealership consolidation and relocation costs incurred in response to market conditions; $2.5 million, or $0.03 per share, of severance costs incurred in connection with workforce reductions; and $1.0 million, or $0.01 per share, of other asset impairment charges. As part of the Company's ongoing cost saving and expense reduction initiatives, the Company's worldwide workforce was reduced by approximately 10% during 2008.

Retail unit sales decreased 22.5% in the quarter. Total revenue was $2.2 billion compared to $3.0 billion in the same period last year. The decline in revenue was driven principally by lower vehicle sales and changes in foreign exchange rates. Same-store retail revenues decreased by 33.5%, with same-store new units declining 34% and used units declining 11%. Despite the broad weakness in the new and used vehicle market, the Company's service and parts business performed well, declining 1.5% on a same-store basis in the fourth quarter excluding the impact of exchange rates.

Commenting on the fourth quarter, Penske Automotive Group Chairman Roger Penske said, "The fourth quarter was one of the most challenging periods on record in the automotive industry. The lack of liquidity in worldwide credit markets and resulting economic effects caused a decrease in consumer confidence, and impacted the willingness and ability of consumers to purchase automobiles. As a result, new vehicle industry sales declined 35% and 27%, respectively, during the quarter in the United States and United Kingdom."

Mr. Penske continued, "As business conditions deteriorated during the fourth quarter, the Company accelerated its cost reduction program. To date, the Company has initiated actions which it expects will result in annualized cost savings of approximately $100 million. As of the end of the year, our liquidity remained strong, including cash and availability under our long-term credit agreements of approximately $330 million. In addition, we elected to pay down $10 million of debt incurred in connection with our June 2008 acquisition of 9% of Penske Truck Leasing. It is important to note that the Company is in compliance will all financial covenants under its debt agreements."

For the year ended December 31, 2008, revenues were $11.6 billion, which compare to $12.8 billion in the prior year. The loss from continuing operations and net loss for the year ended December 31, 2008, were $403.6 million, or $4.32 per share, and $411.9 million, or $4.41 per share, respectively. Adjusted income from continuing operations for the year was $101.6 million, or $1.09 per share, compared to adjusted income from continuing operations of $143.7 million, or $1.52 per share, in the prior year. A reconciliation of adjusted income from continuing operations and adjusted net income can be found in the tables contained in this press release.

Stock Repurchase Authority

The Company has repurchased 450,000 shares of its stock for an aggregate $3.6 million during the fourth quarter, bringing aggregate expenditures under the Company's $150 million authorization to $53.7 million. The Company currently has approximately 91.4 million shares outstanding, and has an additional $96.3 million of repurchase capacity outstanding under the program.

smart USA

The Company's smart USA distribution business completed a successful first year, delivering 27,054 vehicles and generating more than $400 million in revenue. In 2008, smart fortwo sales in the United States ranked third globally, and represented 18% of smart's worldwide sales.

Guidance

Based on the significant volatility in the automotive industry and worldwide credit markets and their impact on consumer confidence and the overall economy, management has determined that it is not feasible to provide reliable earnings guidance at this time.

Conference Call

Penske Automotive will host a conference call discussing financial results relating to the fourth quarter of 2008 on February 17, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. EST. To listen to the conference call, participants must dial (800) 230-1096 [International, please dial (612) 332-0932]. The call will be simultaneously broadcast over the Internet through the Penske Automotive Group website at www.penskeautomotive.com.

About Penske Automotive

Penske Automotive Group, Inc., headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, operates 304 retail automotive franchises, representing 40 different brands and 27 collision repair centers. Penske Automotive, which sells new and previously owned vehicles, finance and insurance products and replacement parts, and offers maintenance and repair services on all brands it represents, has 156 franchises in 19 states and Puerto Rico and 148 franchises located outside the United States, primarily in the United Kingdom. Penske Automotive is also the exclusive distributor of the smart fortwo through its wholly-owned subsidiary smart USA Distributor LLC. smart USA supports 75 smart retail centers in the United States. Penske Automotive is a member of the Fortune 200 and Russell 1000 and has more than 14,000 employees. smart and fortwo are registered trademarks of Daimler AG.

Caution Concerning Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this press release may involve forward-looking statements, including forward-looking statements regarding Penske Automotive Group, Inc.'s future sales and earnings potential and its ability to reduce its variable expenses. Actual results may vary materially because of risks and uncertainties, including external factors such as consumer credit conditions, macro-economic factors, interest rate fluctuations, changes in consumer spending and other factors over which management has no control. These forward-looking statements should be evaluated together with additional information about Penske Automotive's business, markets, conditions and other uncertainties which could affect Penske Automotive's future performance. These risks and uncertainties are addressed in Penske Automotive's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). This press release speaks only as of its date, and Penske Automotive disclaims any duty to update the information herein.

This release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined under SEC rules, such as adjusted income (loss) from continuing operations and related earnings per share, which exclude certain items disclosed in the release. The Company has reconciled these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures in the release. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures improve the transparency of the Company's disclosure and the period-to-period comparability of the Company's results from operations.

PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Income

(Amounts In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

(Unaudited)

                                                      Fourth Quarter

                                                      2008          2007

Revenues:

New Vehicle                                           $1,043,877    $1,658,626

Used Vehicle                                          528,499       729,327

Finance and Insurance, Net                            42,459        67,165

Service and Parts                                     324,590       346,674

Distribution                                          101,051       - -

Fleet and Wholesale Vehicle                           117,466       247,668

Total Revenues                                        2,157,942     3,049,460

Cost of Sales:

New Vehicle                                           964,688       1,518,649

Used Vehicle                                          492,836       672,088

Service and Parts                                     147,513       152,104

Distribution                                          85,951        - -

Fleet and Wholesale Vehicle                           118,905       248,518

Total Cost of Sales                                   1,809,893     2,591,359

Gross Profit                                          348,049       458,101

SG&A Expenses                                         311,263       368,848

Depreciation and Amortization                         13,113        12,789

Unusual Items                                         657,589       6,267

Operating Income (Loss)                               (633,916   )  70,197

Floor Plan Interest Expense                           (15,714    )  (19,806    )

Other Interest Expense                                (14,004    )  (11,936    )

Equity in Earnings of Affiliates                      3,191         901

Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before

Income Taxes and Minority Interests                   (660,443   )  39,356

Income Taxes                                          156,131       (11,334    )

Minority Interests                                    (81        )  (445       )

Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations              (504,393   )  27,577

Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of    (5,517     )  1,831
Tax

Net Income (Loss)                                     ($509,910  )  $29,408

Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Per Diluted  ($5.55     )  $0.29
Share

Income (Loss) Per Diluted Share                       ($5.61     )  $0.31

Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding           90,961        94,677



PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Income

(Amounts In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

(Unaudited)

                                                      Twelve Months

                                                      2008          2007

Revenues:

New Vehicle                                           $5,947,809    $6,941,663

Used Vehicle                                          2,846,929     3,096,557

Finance and Insurance, Net                            259,478       286,797

Service and Parts                                     1,403,785     1,393,153

Distribution                                          348,809       - -

Fleet and Wholesale Vehicle                           839,535       1,073,939

Total Revenues                                        11,646,345    12,792,109

Cost of Sales:

New Vehicle                                           5,460,656     6,357,716

Used Vehicle                                          2,632,959     2,854,294

Service and Parts                                     623,258       614,396

Distribution                                          294,535       - -

Fleet and Wholesale Vehicle                           843,159       1,066,823

Total Cost of Sales                                   9,854,567     10,893,229

Gross Profit                                          1,791,778     1,898,880

SG&A Expenses                                         1,475,648     1,502,824

Depreciation and Amortization                         53,822        50,027

Unusual Items                                         661,968       6,267

Operating Income (Loss)                               (399,660   )  339,762

Floor Plan Interest Expense                           (64,495    )  (73,432    )

Other Interest Expense                                (54,870    )  (55,900    )

Equity in Earnings of Affiliates                      16,513        4,084

Debt Redemption Charge                                - -           (18,634    )

Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before

Income Taxes and Minority Interests                   (502,512   )  195,880

Income Taxes                                          100,020       (66,943    )

Minority Interests                                    (1,133     )  (1,972     )

Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations              (403,625   )  126,965

Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of    (8,276     )  774
Tax

Net Income (Loss)                                     ($411,901  )  $127,739

Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Per Diluted  ($4.32     )  $1.34
Share

Diluted EPS                                           ($4.41     )  $1.35

Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding           93,398        94,558



PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets

(Amounts In Thousands)

(Unaudited)

                                            12/31/08    12/31/07

Assets

Cash and Cash Equivalents                   $20,109     $14,798

Accounts Receivable, Net                    294,567     445,772

Inventories                                 1,593,267   1,667,522

Other Current Assets                        88,828      65,655

Assets Held for Sale                        9,739       106,983

Total Current Assets                        2,006,510   2,300,730

Property and Equipment, Net                 662,493     616,201

Intangibles                                 974,649     1,666,741

Other Assets                                319,509     84,881

Total Assets                                $3,963.161  $4,668,553

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

Floor Plan Notes Payable                    $968,873    $1,060,503

Floor Plan Notes Payable - Non-Trade        511,357     475,188

Accounts Payable                            178,811     264,473

Accrued Expenses                            196,274     210,049

Current Portion Long-Term Debt              11,305      14,522

Liabilities Held for Sale                   13,492      71,304

Total Current Liabilities                   1,880,112   2,096,039

Long-Term Debt                              1,087,932   830,106

Other Long-Term Liabilities                 211,391     320,949

Total Liabilities                           3,179,435   3,247,094

Stockholders' Equity                        783,726     1,421,459

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity  $3,963,161  $4,668,553



PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.

Selected Data

                       Fourth Quarter               Twelve Months

                       2008           2007          2008           2007

Total Retail Units:

New Retail             31,387         45,074        171,872        193,232

Used Retail            21,622         23,306        101,769        100,120

Total Retail           53,009         68,380        273,641        293,352

smart Wholesale Units  7,725          - -           27,054         - -

Same-Store Retail
Units:

New Same-Store Retail  29,172         44,454        151,964        181,940

Used Same-Store        20,618         23,054        95,187         95,240
Retail

Total Same-Store       49,790         67,508        247,151        277,180
Retail

Same-Store Retail
Revenue:

New Vehicles           $983,462       $1,631,736    $5,366,317     $6,567,806

Used Vehicles          502,163        722,198       2,645,535      2,958,901

Finance and            40,680         66,389        240,325        276,069
Insurance, Net

Service and Parts      308,486        340,155       1,295,768      1,330,112

Total Same-Store       $1,834,791     $2,760,478    $9,547,945     $11,132,888
Retail

Same-Store Retail
Revenue Growth:

New Vehicles           (39.7      %)  1.1        %  (18.3      %)  5.4         %

Used Vehicles          (30.5      %)  9.9        %  (10.6      %)  14.6        %

Finance and            (38.7      %)  10.8       %  (12.9      %)  9.2         %
Insurance, Net

Service and Parts      (9.3       %)  5.5        %  (2.6       %)  7.3         %

Revenue Mix:

New Vehicles           48.4       %   54.4       %  51.1       %   54.3        %

Used Vehicles          24.5       %   23.9       %  24.4       %   24.2        %

Finance and            2.0        %   2.2        %  2.2        %   2.2         %
Insurance, Net

Service and Parts      15.0       %   11.4       %  12.1       %   10.9        %

Distribution           4.7        %   --         %  3.0        %   --          %

Fleet and Wholesale    5.4        %   8.1        %  7.2        %   8.4         %

Average Retail
Selling Price:

New Vehicles           $33,258        $36,798       $34,606        $35,924

Used Vehicles          24,443         31,294        27,974         30,929

Gross Margin           16.1       %   15.0       %  15.4       %   14.8        %

Retail Gross Margin -
by Product:

New Vehicles           7.6        %   8.4        %  8.2        %   8.4         %

Used Vehicles          6.7        %   7.8        %  7.5        %   7.8         %

Service and Parts      54.6       %   56.0       %  55.6       %   55.9        %



PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.

Selected Data (Continued)

                        Fourth Quarter                Twelve Months

                        2008       2007               2008        2007

Gross Profit per Retail
Transaction:

New Vehicles            $2,523     $3,106             $2,834      $3,022

Used Vehicles           1,649      2,456              2,102       2,420

Finance and Insurance   801        982                948         978

Brand Mix:

BMW                     23      %  22      %          22       %  22       %

Toyota / Lexus          19      %  20      %          19       %  20       %

Honda / Acura           15      %  14      %          15       %  15       %

Mercedes Benz           10      %  10      %          10       %  11       %

Audi                    9       %  8       %          9        %  8        %

Land Rover              3       %  5       %          4        %  5        %

Ferrari / Maserati      3       %  4       %          3        %  3        %

Porsche                 3       %  3       %          3        %  4        %

Other                   15      %  14      %          15       %  12       %

                        100     %  100     %          100      %  100      %

Premium                 65      %  66      %          65       %  66       %

Foreign                 31      %  29      %          30       %  29       %

Domestic Big 3          4       %  5       %          5        %  5        %

                        100     %  100     %          100      %  100      %

Revenue Mix:

U.S.                    69      %  64      %          64       %  63       %

International           31      %  36      %          36       %  37       %

                        100     %  100     %          100      %  100      %

Rent Expense            $39,673    $39,321            $160,100    $150,573

                                                      12/31/08    12/31/07

Debt to Total Capital Ratio                           58       %  37       %

Adjusted Debt to Total Capital Ratio (excl.           46       %  37       %
intangible impairment charge)

Debt Covenant Compliance (U.S.):

Current Ratio (min 1.00:1)                            1.07:1      1.10:1

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (min 1.00:1)              1.24:1      1.57:1

Ratio of Non-Floorplan Debt to Stockholders' Equity   0.86:1      0.61:1
(max 1.30:1)

Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio (max 2.50:1)              1.26:1      0.34:1

Debt Covenant Compliance (U.K.):

Capital Expenditures (max £50 million)               GBP29.5     GBP6.2

EBITAR to Fixed Charges (min 1.40:1)                  1.76x       2.02x

Debt to EBITAR (max 3.25:1)                           1.45x       0.80x



PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.

Non-GAAP Reconciliation

($'s in Millions)

Adjusted Income from Continuing Operations:

                                     2008

                                     Fourth Quarter       Twelve Months

                                     Net        EPS       Net         EPS

Loss from Continuing Operations      ($504.4 )  ($5.55 )  ($403.6  )  ($4.32   )

SFAS No. 142 Intangible Impairment   493.1      5.42      493.1       5.28

Dealership Consolidation Costs       5.8        0.06      5.8         0.06

Severance                            2.5        0.03      3.8         0.04

Other                                1.0        0.01      2.5         0.03

Adjusted Income (Loss) from
                                     ($2.0   )  ($0.02 )  $101.6      $1.09
Continuing Operations

                                     2007

                                     Fourth Quarter       Twelve Months

                                     Net        EPS       Net         EPS

Income from Continuing Operations    $27.6      $0.29     $127.0      $1.34

Impairments                          4.4        0.05      4.4         0.05

Senior Subordinated Note Redemption  --         --        12.3        0.13

Adjusted Income from Continuing
                                     $32.0      $0.34     $143.7      $1.52
Operations

Components of Adjusted Debt to Total Capital Ratio:

                                                          12/31/08    12/31/07

Reported Debt                                             $1,099.2    $844.6

Reported Stockholders' Equity                             $783.7      $1,421.5

Equity Impact of Intangible Impairment                    493.1       --

Adjusted Stockholders' Equity                             $1,276.8    $1,421.5

Reported Total Capital                                    $1,882.9    $2,266.1

Equity Impact of Intangible Impairment                    493.1       --

Adjusted Total Capital                                    $2,376.0    $2,266.1



    Source: Penske Automotive Group, Inc.
Contact: Penske Automotive Group, Inc. Bob O'Shaughnessy Chief Financial Officer 248-648-2800 boshaughnessy@penskeautomotive.com or Anthony R. Pordon Senior Vice President 248-648-2540 tpordon@penskeautomotive.com