Group 1 Automotive is an international automotive retailer group and has come to be a trusted seller of vehicles by a range of marques. In March 2007, Group 1 Automotive launched their UK operation and founded the Barons Group when they acquired their first BMW and MINI dealerships. Essex Audi then became a part of the Barons Group in 2012 when Group 1 Automotive acquired their first UK Audi dealerships. Think Ford was founded in February 2013 when Group 1 Automotive obtained their Farnborough, Guildford, Wokingham and Bracknell Ford centres under the Barons Group, which were formerly part of Inchcape. Later in December 2014, Elms BMW and MINI joined the UK Barons Group network. 2016 saw Spire Automotive become part of Group 1 Automotive’s subsidiary, the Barons Group, representing Audi, BMW, MINI, Volkswagen Commercial, SEAT and ŠKODA across Essex, Hertfordshire and London. A year later, Group 1 Automotive acquired the Beadles Group, which joined their Barons Group operation. Founded in 1987, the Beadles group is based in Dartford and represents Jaguar, Land Rover, Kia, ŠKODA, Toyota and Volkswagen across Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey. In March 2018, the Barons Group acquired five Mercedes-Benz and three smart dealerships, originally part of the Robinsons Motor Group. The Mercedes-Benz dealerships are based in Bury St. Edmunds, Cambridge, Kings Lynn, Norwich and Peterborough, with the smart dealerships situated in Cambridge, Norwich and Peterborough.