Exhibit 99.1

Contact: Marc Cannon (954) 769-3146 cannonm@autonation.com   Investor contact: Cheryl Scully (954) 769-7734 scullyc@autonation.com   Kate Keyser (954) 769-7342 keyserk1@autonation.com

AutoNation Announces May 2011 Retail New Vehicle Unit Sales

• May 2011 retail new vehicle unit sales decreased 15% versus May 2010

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., June 2, 2011 — AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE: AN), America’s largest automotive retailer, today announced that its retail new vehicle unit sales in May 2011, as reported to the applicable automotive manufacturers, totaled 16,347, a decrease of 15% as compared to May 2010. Retail new vehicle unit sales in May 2011 for AutoNation’s operating segments were as follows:

• 5,995 for Domestic, up 3% versus May 2010,

• 7,110 for Import, down 30% versus May 2010, and

• 3,242 for Premium Luxury, up 1% versus May 2010.

May 2011 had 24 selling days, while May 2010 had 26 selling days.

The information provided in this news release is based on sales reports provided by our stores, including stores acquired since May 2010, to the applicable automotive manufacturers and is provided on a continuing operations basis. These reports are prepared based on the standards established by the applicable automotive manufacturers, which differ from GAAP revenue recognition and other requirements and are based on the time periods set by the automotive manufacturers for reporting monthly sales (which generally differ from the calendar month). As a result, our operating results calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, including our new vehicle unit sales, may differ materially from any results expressed or implied by the information provided in our monthly sales reports and summarized in this news release and future news releases. In addition, new vehicle unit sales are subject to seasonal trends. Consequently, new vehicle unit sales for a particular month are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for a full quarter or year. Please refer to our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, for additional information regarding our operations. Investors should not assume that our disclosure of the information in this news release means that we have determined that such information is material to the Company.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “goals,” “plans,” “believes,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Statements regarding our expectations for the automotive retail industry, as well as statements that describe our objectives, goals, or plans, are forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations

concerning future results and events, and they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance and achievements expressed or implied by these statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others: economic conditions generally; conditions in the credit markets and changes in interest rates; the success and financial viability of vehicle manufacturers and distributors with which we hold franchises; the duration and severity of production cuts or disruptions resulting from the natural disasters in Japan, which are uncertain at this time and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations; factors affecting our goodwill and other intangible asset impairment testing; natural disasters and other adverse weather events; restrictions imposed by vehicle manufacturers; the resolution of legal and administrative proceedings; regulatory factors affecting our business; and other factors described in our news releases and filings made under the securities laws, including, among others, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release, and we undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

About AutoNation, Inc.

AutoNation, Inc., headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is America’s largest automotive retailer. A component of the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index, AutoNation owns and operates 247 new vehicle franchises in 15 states. For additional information, please visit www.autonation.com or corp.autonation.com. Follow us at www.facebook.com/autonation and www.twitter.com/autonation.