<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>

     This schedule contains summary financial  information  extracted from the
     unaudited consolidated financial statements at September 30, 2000 and for
     the  three  months  then  ended,  and is  qualified  in its  entirety  by
     reference to such financial statements.


<CIK>                         0001023128
<NAME>                        Lithia Motors, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollars

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Dec-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 Jan-1-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                   Sep-30-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         52,520
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  38,026
<ALLOWANCES>                                   1,455
<INVENTORY>                                    261,899
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               356,291
<PP&E>                                         81,984
<DEPRECIATION>                                 7,551
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 558,813
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          245,654
<BONDS>                                        327,794
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    8,915
<COMMON>                                       108,693
<OTHER-SE>                                     58,130
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   558,813
<SALES>                                        1,048,152
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               1,256,520
<CGS>                                          946,344
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  1,055,552
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               152,309
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               121
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             18,822
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                30,721
<INCOME-TAX>                                   12,040
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            18,681
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   18,681
<EPS-BASIC>                                    1.50
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.36