<ARTICLE>    5
<CIK>        0001019849
<NAME>       UNITED AUTO GROUP, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    9-MOS                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                DEC-31-1997             DEC-01-1996
<PERIOD-START>                   JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                     SEP-30-1997             DEC-31-1996
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<SECURITIES>                               0                         0        
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<PP&E>                                39,427                    25,967   
<DEPRECIATION>                         4,949                     3,626    
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<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                314,453                   221,455  
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<PREFERRED>                                0                         0        
<COMMON>                                   2                         2        
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<CHANGES>                                  0                         0        
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<EPS-DILUTED>                           0.89                      0.23