AutoNation

What It Is

AutoNation is the largest automotive retailer in the United States, operating a coast-to-coast network of new-vehicle dealerships along with used-car sales, financing, and service. It was founded in the 1990s by Wayne Huizenga, the South Florida entrepreneur who had already built Blockbuster Video and the waste-hauling giant Waste Management into national companies. Huizenga's strategy was to consolidate a fragmented industry of independent dealerships into a single large brand. The company is headquartered in South Florida and remains one of the region's largest public companies by revenue.

Why It Matters

AutoNation is part of Wayne Huizenga's remarkable run of building three separate billion-dollar companies from a South Florida base, a legacy that runs through the Huizenga name and into local sports and philanthropy. Its scale shows that Miami's corporate economy is not only about Latin American trade and tourism but also about national-scale consumer businesses run from the region. As one of the area's biggest companies by revenue, AutoNation is a reminder that South Florida has repeatedly produced operators who roll up entire industries from a home base most rivals overlook.

Eras: The Latam Capital Era People / Dynasties / Landmarks: Wayne Huizenga · The Huizenga Family