UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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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): February 19, 2020

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SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

1-13395	56-2010790
(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

	4401 Colwick Road
	Charlotte,	North Carolina	28211
(Address of principal executive offices)			(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (704) 566-2400

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	SAH	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On February 19, 2020, Sonic Automotive, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial results for its fourth fiscal quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (the “Earnings Press Release”). A copy of the Earnings Press Release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and a copy of the earnings call presentation materials is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2.

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On February 19, 2020, in the Earnings Press Release, the Company announced the approval of a quarterly cash dividend.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)    Exhibits.

Exhibit   No.	Description
99.1	Press Release of Sonic Automotive, Inc., dated February 19, 2019.
99.2	Earnings Call Presentation Materials.
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 attached hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in any such 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 hereunto duly authorized.

	SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
February 19, 2020	By:	/s/ STEPHEN K. COSS
		Stephen K. Coss
		Senior Vice President and General Counsel