FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -

AutoNation said the J.D. Power Dealer of Excellence Program, which recognizes U.S. retail dealerships that provide a strong customer sales experience, certified 78 of the retailer's stores for 2021.

AutoNation president and chief operating officer Jim Bender described the certification as an outstanding accomplishment for the company’s teams, noting that 54 of the company’s stores received the recognition last year.

Those 54 stores received the recognition again this year, along with 24 new stores added this year.

“We could not be prouder,” Bender said in a news release.

Bender also said, “This recognition amplifies AutoNation’s commitment to providing a peerless customer experience as the clear industry leader, and every member of our team shares in this achievement.”

Not all dealerships can qualify for Dealer of Excellence, AutoNation said. Qualifying dealerships must pass a three-step process:

As the first qualification criterion, J.D. Power limits the percentage of eligible dealerships by nameplate based on the performance of each brand in the most recent J.D. Power U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index Study. Proportionally more dealerships from top-performing brands can become a J.D. Power Dealer of Excellence.

Second, dealerships must rank among their brand’s top performers in key customer satisfaction areas consistent with measurements found in the SSI Study.

The third step is that qualifying dealers must pass an audit showing they meet or exceed J.D. Power sales best practices. Those best practices include, but are not limited to, listing vehicle inventory and pricing on the dealership website; engaging in efficient and transparent negotiating; offering a fair trade-in value; and presenting a clear and easy-to-understand menu of finance and insurance products.

Following are the 78 certified stores:

— AutoNation Toyota Tempe

— Mercedes-Benz of Naperville

— Audi Las Vegas

— Audi Plano

— Audi Westmont

— AutoNation Acura Gulf Freeway

— AutoNation Chevrolet Amarillo

— AutoNation Chevrolet Gulf Freeway

— AutoNation Chevrolet West Amarillo

— AutoNation Ford Littleton

— AutoNation Ford Memphis

— AutoNation Ford Miami

— AutoNation Ford North Canton

— AutoNation Ford Tustin

— AutoNation Ford Westlake

— AutoNation Honda Sanford

— AutoNation Honda South Corpus Christi

— AutoNation Subaru Spokane Valley

— AutoNation Toyota Arapahoe

— AutoNation Toyota Cerritos

— AutoNation Toyota Fort Myers

— AutoNation Toyota Mall of Georgia

— AutoNation Toyota Weston

— AutoNation Toyota Winter Park

— BMW Encinitas

— Jaguar Fort Lauderdale

— Land Rover Fort Lauderdale

— Lexus of Clearwater

— Lexus of Palm Beach

— Mercedes-Benz of Houston Greenway

— Mercedes-Benz of Miami

— Mercedes-Benz of Stevens Creek

— Porsche Newport Beach

— Porsche Plano

— Valencia BMW

— Audi Peoria

— Audi Spokane

— AutoNation Acura North Orlando

— AutoNation Chevrolet Coral Gables

— AutoNation Chevrolet Doral

— AutoNation Ford Amherst

— AutoNation Ford Katy

— AutoNation Ford Mobile

— AutoNation Ford Sanford

— AutoNation Honda Miami Lakes

— AutoNation Honda Roseville

— AutoNation Volkswagen Spokane

— AutoNation Volvo Cars San Jose

— House of Imports

— Lexus of Cerritos

— Mercedes-Benz of Fort Lauderdale

— Mercedes-Benz of Houston North/smart center Houston North

— Mercedes-Benz of Pembroke Pines

— Mercedes-Benz of Sarasota/smart Center Sarasota

— Audi Bellevue

— AutoNation Acura South Bay

— AutoNation Acura Spokane Valley

— AutoNation Acura Stevens Creek

— AutoNation Chevrolet Arrowhead

— AutoNation Ford Burleson

— AutoNation Ford Corpus Christi

— AutoNation Ford South Fort Worth

— AutoNation Ford Valencia

— AutoNation Honda 385

— AutoNation Honda Costa Mesa

— AutoNation Honda Covington Pike

— AutoNation Honda Fremont

— AutoNation Honda Hollywood

— AutoNation Honda Renton

— AutoNation Honda Thornton Road

— AutoNation Honda Tucson Auto Mall

— AutoNation Honda Valencia

— AutoNation Subaru Roseville

— AutoNation Toyota Spokane Valley

— AutoNation Volkswagen Mall of Georgia

— Laurel BMW of Westmont

— Mercedes-Benz of North Orlando

— Mercedes-Benz of San Jose / Smart Center San Jose