AutoNation operates more than 300 dealerships across 18 states, making it the largest automotive retailer in the United States by unit volume. The company is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and generated roughly $27 billion in revenue in its most recent fiscal year. That scale means a procurement operation touching thousands of vendors, from national fleet accounts down to regional service contractors.
If you run a minority-, women-, veteran-, or disability-owned business, AutoNation's supplier diversity program gives you a formal path in. Here is how to use it.
What AutoNation buys from outside suppliers
AutoNation's external spend spans several distinct categories.
Facilities and maintenance. With 300-plus physical dealership locations, AutoNation continuously procures janitorial services, landscaping, electrical and plumbing work, HVAC maintenance, and general building contractors. Dealerships are large facilities with service bays, showrooms, and offices, so the maintenance spend is ongoing rather than project-based.
Marketing and advertising. AutoNation runs local and national campaigns across broadcast, digital, and print. Agencies, media buyers, graphic designers, video production companies, and translation services all fall under this umbrella. Regional marketing agencies with local market knowledge have an advantage here because dealership-level advertising is tied to specific geographic markets.
Professional services. This includes consulting, HR services, training vendors, staffing firms, and legal support. Large retailers at AutoNation's revenue scale routinely use outside consultants for technology implementation, change management, and operational improvement projects.
Technology and IT. Dealership management systems, cybersecurity vendors, software development, hardware procurement, and IT support are all active categories. As AutoNation has invested in its digital retail experience, technology spend has grown.
Logistics and fleet support. Vehicle transport, parts logistics, and supply chain support services are also purchased externally.
Not every category has equal volume, and not every dealership follows identical sourcing practices. National contracts are managed from the corporate level in Fort Lauderdale; local dealerships may have discretionary spend for smaller service contracts. Getting on national preferred vendor lists carries more value than landing a single dealership relationship.
How to register as a supplier
AutoNation runs a formal Supplier Diversity Program with a dedicated registration process. To begin, navigate to the AutoNation corporate website (autonation.com) and locate the supplier diversity or procurement section, typically found under the "About" or "Corporate" navigation. Search for "AutoNation Supplier Diversity Program" if you cannot find it directly.
During registration, you should expect to provide:
- Legal business name, address, and tax identification number
- Business ownership structure and demographic certification status
- NAICS codes that describe your primary services or products
- Annual revenue and employee headcount
- Proof of certifications (NMSDC, WBENC, or other recognized bodies)
- References or a client list showing relevant prior work
- A capability statement or company overview
Prepare your documentation before you start the form. Incomplete applications stall, and a clean first submission signals operational competence.
Which certifications carry weight
AutoNation participates in both the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Those two certifications are the ones most directly recognized by the program.
NMSDC certifies minority-owned businesses, specifically those at least 51% owned and operated by individuals who identify as Asian-Indian, Asian-Pacific, Black, Hispanic, or Native American. NMSDC has 23 regional affiliate councils. Certification through your regional council is accepted nationally.
WBENC certifies women-owned businesses. It requires 51% ownership and control by one or more women who are US citizens or lawful permanent residents. WBENC certification is recognized by more than 900 corporate members, including AutoNation.
These two certifications are not interchangeable. NMSDC certifies on ethnicity. WBENC certifies on gender. If you qualify for both, pursue both.
For veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, the relevant certifications are NaVOBA (private sector) and the VA's CVE program (for federal contracting). AutoNation does not publicly advertise a specific veteran-owned program, but veteran status noted in your registration can still be a differentiator.
NMSDC and WBENC certifications typically run $350 to $1,250 per year depending on your revenue tier and regional council. Both require documentation reviews and, for WBENC, a site visit. Plan for a 60- to 90-day certification timeline if you are starting from scratch.
How diverse certification status affects your chances
AutoNation, like most Fortune 500 companies participating in NMSDC and WBENC, tracks diverse supplier spend as a metric. Supplier diversity programs exist partly to meet internal spend targets, which are often tied to corporate sustainability and ESG reporting.
In practice, that means a certified MBE or WBE competing for the same contract as a non-certified vendor is not on equal footing. The certified vendor adds to AutoNation's trackable diverse spend. That has real value inside the procurement process, particularly when a buyer is evaluating two similarly qualified vendors.
Certification is not a substitute for capability. You still need competitive pricing, demonstrated capacity, and a track record. But certification removes the "we have no way to count this toward our diversity goals" objection before it forms.
Getting your first contract
Most supplier diversity programs follow the same pattern: registration opens the door, but relationships get you through it.
Attend AutoNation-relevant events. NMSDC and WBENC both run annual conferences that Fortune 500 members attend specifically to meet certified suppliers. AutoNation procurement staff typically attend these events. Face time at a conference converts a portal registration into a recognized name.
Target your outreach to the right category. AutoNation's supplier diversity team can connect you with the relevant category buyer, but you should know your target category before you reach out. Generic inquiries take longer to route. A facilities management company should say exactly that: "We provide commercial HVAC maintenance and janitorial services for multi-location retailers."
Prepare a short capability statement. One page. Your NAICS codes, certifications, relevant clients, capacity, and contact information. Have a PDF ready to email at any point in the process.
Start regional if the national route is slow. Individual AutoNation dealerships have service and maintenance needs they sometimes address through local vendors. A regional relationship, particularly in a market where you already have references, can become a national one once you have proven performance.
Follow up consistently. Supplier diversity contacts at large corporations manage high volumes of inquiries. One email rarely produces a response. Follow up every two to three weeks. Keep the message short and specific.
Who handles supplier diversity at AutoNation
AutoNation's corporate structure includes a dedicated supplier diversity function. The relevant roles to identify are the Director of Supplier Diversity or Vice President of Procurement and Supply Chain. These are the people with authority to advance your registration and connect you with category buyers.
Contact information for the supplier diversity team is typically listed on AutoNation's supplier diversity web page. If you cannot find a direct contact, the corporate communications team at AutoNation's Fort Lauderdale headquarters can route your inquiry.
Supplier development programs and events
AutoNation participates in NMSDC and WBENC events at both the national and regional council level. These are the primary forums where AutoNation's procurement team engages prospective diverse suppliers. Both organizations offer matchmaking sessions where certified suppliers can schedule short meetings with corporate buyers.
NMSDC's annual conference typically runs in the fall. WBENC's Summit and Salute runs in the spring. Both events are national gatherings with significant Fortune 500 attendance. The regional councils also run smaller matchmaking events throughout the year, which are lower competition and easier to get facetime at.
If AutoNation runs any proprietary supplier development programming, it would be announced through their corporate website or via the NMSDC and WBENC networks. Check both channels annually.
The registration process is the starting line, not the finish. Most suppliers who win contracts with large retailers have been in the portal for one to two years before their first order. Submit your registration, get certified, show up at the right events, and follow up consistently.
