At the same time the dealer group made grand announcements about significant broadening of its used-vehicle operations, AutoNation wrapped up the third quarter by keeping its gross profit on its used-car retail sales intact on a year-over-year basis.

AutoNation reported on Friday that its Q3 gross profit per used vehicle retailed through its dealer network ticked up by $6 to come in at $1,519. Through the first nine months, that per-unit gross is off a bit year-over-year, softening by $64 to settle at $1,555.

While confident about its used potential to make aggressive plans, AutoNation’s used-vehicle retail sales figure in the third quarter did come in a little lower compared to what the company’s stores generated during the same time period in 2015. AutoNation retailed 55,760 units in Q3, which was 1,616 units less than a year earlier.

Through the first three quarters of 2016, AutoNation has turned 170,500 used vehicles, which is 1.7 percent off of the pace the group enjoyed a year ago.

Helping the company overcome any struggles it might be having in moving used metal is what AutoNation is producing in the F&I office. The company reported a $48 lift in F&I gross profit per unit during Q3 as the reading jumped to $1,594.

Through three quarters, AutoNation indicated that its F&I gross per unit stands at $1,601, representing a 4.7-percent improvement year-over-year.

On the new-model side, AutoNation sustained third-quarter decreases in both unit sales (down by 3.2 percent to 88,322 vehicles) and gross per unit (down 6.1 percent to $1,791).

Altogether, AutoNation reported that its Q3 net income from continuing operations totaled $108 million, or $1.05 per share, compared to net income from continuing operations of $119 million, or $1.05 per share, for the same period in the prior year.

The company estimated that the Takata airbag recall negatively impacted Q3 net income from continuing operations by approximately $6 million after-tax, or $0.06 per share.

At the end of the third quarter, approximately 14 percent of AutoNation's used vehicle inventory was on hold due to the Takata airbag recall.

“Certain manufacturers continued disruptive marketing and sales incentives, which resulted in multi-tier pricing and were unfair for consumers as well as retailers,” AutoNation chairman, chief executive officer and president Mike Jackson said in a news release.

“In the third quarter, these incentives had a significant negative impact on new vehicle volume and gross profit per new vehicle retailed."

Along with releasing its latest financial statement, AutoNation also highlighted that it added more dealerships to its portfolio.

AutoNation announced the acquisition of three premium luxury franchises as well as the awarding of three premium luxury franchise add points with combined anticipated annual revenues of approximately $430 million once the add points are fully operational.

With the addition of the six premium luxury franchises, AutoNation will own and operate a total of 96 premium luxury franchises from coast to coast.

The dealerships already running include:

—BMW of Vista, located in San Diego. It’s the second BMW store in the San Diego market and 15th BMW store nationwide. The store represents annual revenue of approximately $60 million and 1,200 retail new and used vehicle unit sales

—Jaguar Bethesda and Land Rover Bethesda, located in Bethesda, Md. It’s the 10th store in the Baltimore/D.C. market and the eighth Jaguar/Land Rover store nationwide. AutoNation claimed it’s also the largest Jaguar Land Rover showroom in the United States. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter and represents annual revenue of approximately $80 million and 1,000 retail new and used vehicle unit sales. The acquisition is subject to customary terms and conditions, including manufacturer approval.

AutoNation’s add points are:

—BMW of Delray Beach, located in Palm Beach County, Fla. It’s the first BMW franchise in South Florida and 25th premium luxury franchise in Florida. The company said it is expected to open during the second half of 2018 with anticipated annual revenue of approximately $180 million once fully operational.

—Jaguar West Houston and Land Rover West Houston, located in Houston. It’s the first Jaguar Land Rover store in Texas and 10th premium luxury store in Texas. It’s also expected to open in the second quarter of 2018 with anticipated annual revenue of approximately $100 million once fully operational.

“These acquisitions and awarded franchises present outstanding premium luxury growth opportunities and enhance manufacturer brand representation in markets with excellent premium luxury demographics and within our existing footprint,” Jackson said.

“We look forward to welcoming the BMW of Vista, Jaguar Bethesda and Land Rover Bethesda customers and 165 new associates to AutoNation,” he went on to say.