AutoNation earnings beat Wall Street estimates

* CEO expects 2013 U.S. auto sales near 15.5 million

* Plans branding change at 210 franchises

* New-vehicle sales up 19 percent in fourth quarter

* Shares up 4.9 percent (Adds analyst comment, updates share price)

By Bernie Woodall

AutoNation Inc, the largest U.S. auto dealer group, said strong new vehicle sales boosted its fourth-quarter net income by 20 percent and revenue by 13 percent, and its shares rose 4.9 percent in early trading.

The group also said that it will change the branding of 210 of its stores to include the name AutoNation. This will help name recognition on social media and online, and allow for national advertising rather than regional ad campaigns, it said.

Morgan Stanley analyst Ravi Shanker said the rebranding "is a meaningful change of marketing strategy."

Changing dealership names to include AutoNation will begin Friday and continue through June, said Mike Jackson, AutoNation's chief executive.

Jackson said he expects U.S. industry new vehicle sales to reach in the "mid-15 million" range in 2013, which would mark a rise of about 7 percent from last year and be the highest sales total since 2007.

A combination of factors led to his forecast, which is more bullish than the 15.2 million in a Thomson Reuters poll of analysts this week, Jackson said in an interview. He cited a recovering housing market, the age of cars on the road and their need to be replaced, attractive financing and compelling new vehicles from automakers.

Concerns have washed away about consumers holding off purchases due to talks in Washington about the so-called "fiscal cliff" and upcoming talks about raising the national debt ceiling, he said.

AutoNation stock rose $2.19 or 4.9 percent to $46.94 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

RESPONSIBLE CONSUMERS

"The American consumer is moving on with their lives," Jackson said.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Honda Brio launches new variants

Carmakers' rumbles against quadricycle grow louder

Enter the compact luxury

Audi's $1.3-bn Mexico SUV plant aimed at unseating BMW