October 27, 2010

Lithia Motors Reports Third Quarter 2010 Earnings of $0.37 per Share, Introduces 2011 Guidance in Range of $1.03-1.11 per Share

MEDFORD, OR, Oct 27, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Lithia Motors, Inc. (NYSE: LAD) today reported 2010 third quarter net income from continuing operations of $0.37 per diluted share. This compares to a 2009 adjusted third quarter net income from continuing operations of $0.40 per diluted share. The results include 23% more shares outstanding in 2010 compared to 2009 primarily due to the equity offering at the end of 2009. Third quarter 2010 revenue from continuing operations increased 15% to $582.7 million, compared to $508.0 million in the year-ago period, mainly driven by improved vehicle sales.

Third Quarter Operating Highlights:

--  Total same store sales increased 12%, including increases of 8% in new
            vehicle sales and 2.5% in service, body and parts sales
            --  Same store used vehicle retail sales increased 20% and the used retail
            to new vehicle unit sales ratio was 1.05 : 1
            --  Selling, general & administrative costs as a percent of gross
            profit was 74%, an improvement of 70 basis points over the prior year
            --  Repurchased approximately 100,000 shares in the quarter
            --  Unfinanced new vehicle inventory totaled $65.2 million at the end of
            the quarter, an increase of $33.6 million from June 30, 2010
            

Sid DeBoer, Lithia's Chairman and CEO, commented, "Our continued focus on operations and improving our performance in all business lines is evident in our third quarter results. Despite a difficult comparison due to the Cash for Clunkers program last year, we grew same store sales in all categories. Lithia's store leaders are responding to our customers' needs and local competition quickly and decisively. Our information systems and centralized administrative processes allow our team more time to do what they do best -- service our customers."

As shown in the attached reconciliation table, the 2009 third quarter adjusted results from continuing operations exclude non-core charges of $(0.07) per share on asset impairments. Unadjusted, net income from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2009 was $7.0 million, or $0.33 per diluted share.

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010, total revenues increased 16% to $1.6 billion as compared to $1.4 billion in the same period last year. Same store new vehicle sales increased 15%, retail used vehicle sales increased 19% and service, body and parts sales decreased 1%. For the first nine months, Lithia's adjusted income from continuing operations, net of tax, and excluding non-core charges and gains was $0.74 per share as compared to $0.62 per share in 2009. Unadjusted, net income from continuing operations for the first nine months was $0.37 per diluted share, compared to net income from continuing operations of $0.42 per diluted share for the same period last year.

Balance Sheet Update Lithia ended the period with $110.9 million in immediately available funds, including $15.3 million in cash, $30.4 million in availability on its revolving credit facility, and $65.2 million in unfinanced new vehicle inventory.

Dividend Payment Lithia announced that the Board of Directors has approved a dividend of $0.05 per share for the third quarter 2010. Lithia will pay the dividend November 26th to shareholders of record on November 12th, 2010.

Outlook for 2010 and 2011 Lithia is increasing 2010 fourth quarter earnings guidance to a range of $0.11 to $0.13 per diluted share, for full-year 2010 earnings in a range of $0.84 to $0.86 per diluted share. Both projections are based on the following annual assumptions:

--  Total revenues in range of $1.95 to $2.0 billion
            --  New vehicle same store sales increasing 15.7%
            --  New vehicle gross margin ranging from 8.1% to 8.3%
            --  Used vehicle same store sales increasing 16.6%
            --  Used vehicle gross margin ranging from 14.2% to 14.5%
            --  Service body and parts same store sales decreasing 0.6%
            --  Service body and parts gross margin ranging from 48.4% to 48.7%
            --  Finance and insurance gross profit of $955 per unit
            --  Tax rate of 40%
            --  Estimated average diluted shares outstanding of 26.3 million
            --  Capital expenditures of approximately $9.3 million
            --  Chrysler market share consistent with full year 2009 levels
            --  Guidance excludes the impact of future acquisitions, dispositions, and
            any potential non-core items
            

Lithia projects its 2011 first quarter earnings guidance within a range of $0.15 to $0.17 per diluted share. Full-year 2011 earnings guidance is projected within a range of $1.03 to $1.11 per diluted share. Both projections are based on the following annual assumptions:

--  Total revenues in range of $2.2 to $2.35 billion
            --  New vehicle same store sales increasing 10.0%
            --  New vehicle gross margin ranging from 8.0% to 8.2%
            --  Used vehicle same store sales increasing 8.8%
            --  Used vehicle gross margin ranging from 14.0% to 14.3%
            --  Service body and parts same store sales increasing 1.9%
            --  Service body and parts gross margin ranging from 48.6% to 48.9%
            --  Finance and insurance gross profit of $970 per unit
            --  Tax rate of 40%
            --  Estimated average diluted shares outstanding of 26.9 million
            --  Capital expenditures of approximately $10.6 million
            --  Guidance excludes the impact of future acquisitions, dispositions, and
            any potential non-core items
            

Third Quarter Earnings Conference Call and Updated Presentation The third quarter conference call may be accessed at 2:00 p.m. PT today by telephone at (877) 407-8029 (Conference ID: 358497). An updated presentation highlighting the third quarter results has been added to Investor Relations on www.lithia.com.

To listen live on our website or for replay, visit Investor Relations on www.lithia.com and click on the conference call icon. A playback of the conference call will be available after 5:00 p.m. PT on October 27, 2010 through November 3, 2010 by calling 877-660-6853 (Conference ID: 358497 Account: 305).

About Lithia Lithia Motors, Inc. is the ninth largest automotive retailer in the United States and a Fortune 800 company. Lithia sells 26 brands of new and all brands of used vehicles at 85 stores, which are located in 12 states. Lithia also sells used vehicles; arranges finance, warranty, and credit insurance contracts; and provides vehicle parts, maintenance, and repair services at all of its locations.

For additional information on Lithia Motors, contact the Investor Relations Department at (541) 618-5748 or visit www.lithia.com and click on "Investor Relations."

Sites

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www.lithiacares.com

www.lithiajobs.com

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Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "Safe-Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which management believes are a benefit to shareholders. Forward-looking statements in this press release include our guidance regarding fourth quarter and full year 2010 results and first quarter and full year 2011 results, our ability to utilize our information systems and the leverage produced by our centralized administrative operations. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our goals, plans, projections and guidance regarding our financial position, results of operations, market position, pending and potential future acquisitions and business strategy, and often contain words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks" or "will." These statements are necessarily subject to risk and uncertainty and actual results could differ materially due to certain risk factors, including without limitation, future economic conditions and others set forth from time to time in the company's filings with the SEC. We urge you to carefully consider this information. We undertake no duty to update our forward-looking statements, including our earnings outlook.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures This press release and the attached financial tables contain certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined under SEC rules, such as adjusted net income and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, adjusted SG&A as a percentage of revenues and gross profit, adjusted operating margin, adjusted operating profit as a percentage of gross profit and adjusted pre-tax margin adjusted to exclude certain items disclosed in the attached financial tables. Cash flows from operations were adjusted to include the change in non-trade floorplan debt to improve the visibility of cash flows related to vehicle financing. As required by SEC rules, the Company has provided reconciliations of these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures, which are set forth in the attachments to this release. The Company believes that each of the foregoing non-GAAP financial measures improves the transparency of the Company's disclosure, provides a meaningful presentation of the Company's results from its core business operations excluding adjustments for items not related to the Company's ongoing core business operations or other non-cash adjustments, and improves the period-to-period comparability of the Company's results from its core business operations. These presentations are not intended to provide net income, cash flows from operations, operating income or selling, general and administrative costs in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered an alternative to GAAP measures.

Lithia Motors, Inc.
            Consolidated Statement of Operations (Unaudited)
            (In thousands except per share data)
            Three Months Ended
            September 30,                     %
            --------------------   Increase    Increase
            2010       2009     (Decrease)  (Decrease)
            ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------
            Revenues:
            New vehicle sales             $ 293,237  $ 266,769  $   26,468         9.9%
            Used vehicle sales              189,667    150,080      39,587        26.4
            Finance and insurance            18,928     15,704       3,224        20.5
            Service, body and parts          77,733     74,538       3,195         4.3
            Fleet and other                   3,122        895       2,227       248.8
            ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------
            Total revenues               582,687    507,986      74,701        14.7
            Cost of sales:
            New vehicle sales               269,018    242,963      26,055        10.7
            Used vehicle sales              166,368    130,322      36,046        27.7
            Service, body and parts          39,673     38,611       1,062         2.8
            Fleet and other                   2,684        597       2,087       349.6
            ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------
            Total cost of sales          477,743    412,493      65,250        15.8
            ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------
            Gross profit                    104,944     95,493       9,451         9.9
            Asset impairment charges              -      1,967      (1,967)     (100.0)
            SG&A expense                     77,468     71,557       5,911         8.3
            Depreciation and amortization     4,238      3,883         355         9.1
            ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------
            Income from operations           23,238     18,086       5,152        28.5
            Floorplan interest expense       (3,085)    (3,053)         32         1.0
            Other interest expense           (3,725)    (3,291)        434        13.2
            Other income, net                    73         25          48       192.0
            ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------
            Income from continuing
            operations before income
            taxes                           16,501     11,767       4,734        40.2
            Income tax expense                6,709      4,792       1,917        40.0
            Income tax rate                    40.7%      40.7%
            ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------
            Income from continuing
            operations                   $   9,792  $   6,975  $    2,817        40.4%
            Loss from discontinued
            operations, net of income
            tax                                  -     (1,262)      1,262       100.0
            ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------
            Net income                    $   9,792  $   5,713  $    4,079        71.4%
            =========  =========  ==========  ==========
            Diluted net income (loss) per
            share:
            Continuing operations         $    0.37  $    0.33  $     0.04        12.1%
            Discontinued operations               -      (0.06)       0.06       100.0
            ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------
            Net income per share          $    0.37  $    0.27  $     0.10        37.0%
            =========  =========  ==========  ==========
            Diluted shares outstanding       26,328     21,448       4,880        22.8%
            Lithia Motors, Inc.
            Key Performance Metrics (Unaudited)
            Three Months Ended
            September 30,                       %
            ------------------   Increase     Increase
            2010      2009    (Decrease)   (Decrease)
            --------  --------  -----------  -----------
            Gross margin
            New vehicle retail                 8.3%      8.9%    (60) bps
            Used vehicle retail               14.7      15.2     (50) bps
            Used vehicle wholesale             0.1       0.1        - bps
            Finance & insurance              100.0     100.0        - bps
            Service, body & parts             49.0      48.2      80  bps
            Gross profit margin               18.0      18.8     (80) bps
            Unit sales
            New vehicle retail               9,232     9,278          (46)       (0.5)%
            Used vehicle retail              9,705     8,000        1,705        21.3
            Used vehicle wholesale           4,066     4,178         (112)       (2.7)
            Total units sold                23,003    21,456        1,547         7.2
            Average selling price
            New vehicle retail            $ 31,763  $ 28,753  $     3,010        10.5 %
            Used vehicle retail             16,362    16,232          130         0.8
            Used vehicle wholesale           7,592     4,840        2,752        56.9
            Average gross profit per unit
            New vehicle retail            $  2,623  $  2,566  $        57         2.2 %
            Used vehicle retail              2,397     2,468          (71)       (2.9)
            Used vehicle wholesale               8         4            4       100.0
            Finance & insurance              1,000       909           91        10.0
            Revenue mix
            New vehicle retail                50.3%     52.5%
            Used vehicle retail               27.3      25.6
            Used vehicle wholesale             5.4       3.9
            Finance & insurance, net           3.2       3.1
            Service, body & parts             13.3      14.7
            Fleet and other                    0.5       0.2
            Adjusted               As reported
            ------------------      ------------------
            Three Months Ended      Three Months Ended
            September 30,          September 30,
            ------------------      ------------------
            Other metrics                   2010       2009         2010        2009
            -------   -------       -------    -------
            SG&A as a % of revenue            13.3%     14.0%        13.3%       14.1 %
            SG&A as a % of gross profit       73.8      74.5         73.8        74.9
            Operating profit as a % of
            revenue                           4.0       4.0          4.0         3.6
            Operating profit as a % of
            gross profit                     22.1      21.4         22.1        18.9
            Pretax margin                      2.8       2.8          2.8         2.3
            Lithia Motors, Inc.
            Key Performance Metrics (Unaudited)
            Three Months Ended
            September 30,
            -------------------------
            2010          2009
            -----------   -----------
            New vehicle unit sales brand mix
            Chrysler                                               29.0 %        28.5 %
            General Motors                                         15.7          15.4
            Toyota                                                 13.0          15.5
            Honda                                                   8.2           8.5
            Ford                                                    6.1           4.6
            Hyundai                                                 5.9           6.6
            Subaru                                                  5.7           6.0
            BMW                                                     5.1           4.3
            Volkswagen, Audi                                        4.0           3.2
            Nissan                                                  3.4           4.5
            Kia                                                     2.0           1.0
            Mercedes                                                1.3           1.0
            Other                                                   0.6           0.9
            Same store revenue changes
            New vehicle retail                                      8.0 %       (13.5)%
            Used vehicle retail                                    19.8           3.1
            Used vehicle wholesale                                 51.8         (17.7)
            Finance & insurance                                    18.8         (23.7)
            Service, body & parts                                   2.5          (2.2)
            Total sales (excluding fleet)                          12.2          (8.7)
            Same store gross profit changes
            New vehicle retail                                     (0.3)%         1.8 %
            Used vehicle retail                                    16.5          51.3
            Used vehicle wholesale                                113.8        (102.9)
            Service, body & parts                                   3.9          (2.6)
            Total gross profit (excluding fleet)                    7.6           3.0
            Current store count                             # of stores    % of total
            -----------   -----------
            Chrysler                                                 23          27.1 %
            General Motors                                           12          14.1
            Honda                                                     8           9.4
            Toyota                                                    8           9.4
            Hyundai                                                   6           7.0
            BMW                                                       6           7.0
            Ford                                                      4           4.7
            Volkswagen, Audi                                          4           4.7
            Nissan                                                    4           4.7
            Subaru                                                    2           2.4
            Kia                                                       2           2.4
            Mercedes                                                  1           1.2
            Other                                                     5           5.9
            -----------
            85
            Lithia Motors, Inc.
            Consolidated Statement of Operations (Unaudited)
            (In thousands except per share data)
            Nine Months Ended
            September 30,                      %
            --------------------    Increase    Increase
            2010       2009     (Decrease)   (Decrease)
            ---------  ---------  -----------  ----------
            Revenues:
            New vehicle sales           $ 777,575  $ 670,835  $   106,740        15.9 %
            Used vehicle sales            521,437    419,689      101,748        24.2
            Finance and insurance          49,840     44,098        5,742        13.0
            Service, body and parts       218,526    219,807       (1,281)       (0.6)
            Fleet and other                 8,629      2,090        6,539       312.9
            ---------  ---------  -----------  ----------
            Total revenues           1,576,007  1,356,519      219,488        16.2
            Cost of sales:
            New vehicle sales             712,857    612,942       99,915        16.3
            Used vehicle sales            457,625    367,536       90,089        24.5
            Service, body and parts       111,541    113,900       (2,359)       (2.1)
            Fleet and other                 7,392      1,078        6,314       585.7
            ---------  ---------  -----------  ----------
            Total cost of sales      1,289,415  1,095,456      193,959        17.7
            ---------  ---------  -----------  ----------
            Gross profit                  286,592    261,063       25,529         9.8
            Asset impairment charges       14,751      7,164        7,587       105.9
            SG&A expense                  223,320    209,469       13,851         6.6
            Depreciation and
            amortization                  13,389     11,943        1,446        12.1
            ---------  ---------  -----------  ----------
            Income from operations         35,132     32,487        2,645         8.1
            Floorplan interest expense     (8,403)    (8,628)        (225)       (2.6)
            Other interest expense        (10,842)   (10,639)         203         1.9
            Other income, net                 356      1,447       (1,091)      (75.4)
            ---------  ---------  -----------  ----------
            Income from continuing
            operations before income
            taxes                         16,243     14,667        1,576       (10.7)
            Income tax expense              6,522      5,937          585         9.9
            Income tax rate                  40.2%      40.5%
            ---------  ---------  -----------  ----------
            Income from continuing
            operations                 $   9,721  $   8,730  $       991        11.4 %
            Income (loss) from
            discontinued operations,
            net of income tax               (381)     1,975       (2,356)         NM
            ---------  ---------  -----------  ----------
            Net income                  $   9,340  $  10,705  $    (1,365)      (12.8)%
            =========  =========  ===========  ==========
            Diluted net income (loss)
            per share:
            Continuing operations       $    0.37  $    0.41  $     (0.04)       (9.8)%
            Discontinued operations         (0.01)      0.10        (0.11)         NM
            ---------  ---------  -----------  ----------
            Net income per share        $    0.36  $    0.51  $     (0.15)      (29.4)%
            =========  =========  ===========  ==========
            Diluted shares outstanding     26,191     21,124        5,067        24.0 %
            NM - not meaningful
            Lithia Motors, Inc.
            Key Performance Metrics (Unaudited)
            Nine Months Ended
            September 30,                     %
            --------------------   Increase    Increase
            2010       2009     (Decrease)  (Decrease)
            ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------
            Gross margin
            New vehicle retail                  8.3%       8.6%   (30) bps
            Used vehicle retail                14.3       14.2     10  bps
            Used vehicle wholesale              0.9        0.8     10  bps
            Finance & insurance               100.0      100.0      -  bps
            Service, body & parts              49.0       48.2     80  bps
            Gross profit margin                18.2       19.2   (100) bps
            Unit sales
            New vehicle retail               24,794     22,779       2,015         8.8%
            Used vehicle retail              26,583     22,879       3,704        16.2
            Used vehicle wholesale           10,657     10,457         200         1.9
            Total units sold                 62,034     56,115       5,919        10.5
            Average selling price
            New vehicle retail            $  31,361  $  29,450  $    1,911         6.5%
            Used vehicle retail              16,610     15,962         648         4.1
            Used vehicle wholesale            7,498      5,211       2,287        43.9
            Average gross profit per unit
            New vehicle retail            $   2,610  $   2,541  $       69         2.7%
            Used vehicle retail               2,374      2,261         113         5.0
            Used vehicle wholesale               66         40          26        65.0
            Finance & insurance                 970        966           4         0.4
            Revenue mix
            New vehicle retail                 49.3%      49.5%
            Used vehicle retail                28.0       26.9
            Used vehicle wholesale              5.1        3.9
            Finance & insurance, net            3.2        3.3
            Service, body & parts              13.9       16.2
            Fleet and other                     0.5        0.2
            Adjusted             As reported
            -----------------      ------------------
            Nine Months Ended     Nine Months Ended
            September 30,          September 30,
            -----------------      ------------------
            Other metrics                     2010       2009        2010        2009
            ------     ------      ------      ------
            SG&A as a % of revenue             14.1%      15.4%       14.2%       15.4%
            SG&A as a % of gross profit        77.6       79.9        77.9        80.2
            Operating profit as a % of
            revenue                            3.2        3.0         2.2         2.4
            Operating profit as a % of
            gross profit                      17.8       15.6        12.3        12.4
            Pretax margin                       2.0        1.6         1.0         1.1
            Lithia Motors, Inc.
            Key Performance Metrics (Unaudited)
            Nine Months Ended
            September 30,
            -------------------
            2010       2009
            ---------  --------
            New vehicle unit sales brand mix
            Chrysler                                                   28.1%     30.9 %
            General Motors                                             16.5      16.1
            Toyota                                                     13.4      14.7
            Honda                                                       8.5       8.6
            Hyundai                                                     5.9       5.3
            Ford                                                        5.8       4.7
            Subaru                                                      5.5       5.1
            BMW                                                         5.3       4.7
            Volkswagen, Audi                                            3.6       3.2
            Nissan                                                      3.5       4.0
            Kia                                                         2.0       0.6
            Mercedes                                                    1.1       1.0
            Other                                                       0.8       1.1
            Same store revenue changes
            New vehicle retail                                         14.8%    (29.7)%
            Used vehicle retail                                        18.8      (2.2)
            Used vehicle wholesale                                     45.4     (33.3)
            Finance & insurance                                        11.5     (30.0)
            Service, body & parts                                      (1.2)     (3.9)
            Total sales (excluding fleet)                              14.4     (20.3)
            Same store gross profit changes
            New vehicle retail                                         10.3%    (21.0)%
            Used vehicle retail                                        24.1      21.7
            Used vehicle wholesale                                     34.3    (128.5)
            Service, body & parts                                       0.1      (3.0)
            Total gross profit (excluding fleet)                        8.9      (8.6)
            Geographic revenue mix
            Texas                                                      24.5%     23.7 %
            Oregon                                                     15.2      16.6
            California                                                 11.3      11.6
            Alaska                                                     10.4       9.9
            Washington                                                 10.0       9.8
            Montana                                                     7.2       7.0
            Iowa                                                        7.0       7.1
            Idaho                                                       6.4       6.4
            Nevada                                                      4.1       4.0
            North Dakota                                                2.1       1.8
            Colorado                                                    0.9       0.9
            New Mexico                                                  0.9       1.2
            Lithia Motors, Inc.
            Consolidated Balance Sheet (Unaudited)
            (In thousands except per share data)
            September 30, 2010  December 31, 2009
            ------------------  ------------------
            Cash and cash equivalents           $           15,301  $           12,776
            Contracts in transit                            28,649              21,940
            Trade receivables, net                          41,235              30,157
            Inventory, net                                 392,906             328,726
            Vehicles leased to others                        8,253               7,384
            Prepaid expenses and other                       3,059               5,387
            Assets held for sale                                 -              11,693
            ------------------  ------------------
            Total current assets                $          489,403  $          418,063
            Land and building, net                         313,290             326,625
            Equipment and other, net                        49,700              59,429
            Goodwill                                         6,186                   -
            Intangible assets, net                          45,299              42,496
            Other non-current assets                         8,817               7,752
            Deferred income taxes                           42,394              40,735
            ------------------  ------------------
            Total assets                        $          955,089  $          895,100
            ==================  ==================
            Flooring notes payable                         223,949             210,488
            Current maturities of line of
            credit                                              -              24,000
            Current maturities of other debt                14,898              14,303
            Trade payables                                  24,957              18,782
            Accrued liabilities                             59,793              47,518
            Deferred income taxes                                -               1,036
            Liabilities related to assets held
            for sale                                            -               5,050
            ------------------  ------------------
            Total current liabilities           $          323,597  $          321,177
            Real estate debt                               237,056             230,265
            Other long-term debt                            42,733               2,800
            Deferred revenue                                19,963              17,981
            Other long-term liabilities                     17,257              15,839
            ------------------  ------------------
            Total liabilities                   $          640,606  $          588,062
            ------------------  ------------------
            Class A common stock                           283,275             280,880
            Class B common stock                               468                 468
            Additional paid-in capital                      10,644              10,501
            Other comprehensive income                      (5,676)             (3,850)
            Retained earnings                               25,772              19,039
            ------------------  ------------------
            Total liabilities & shareholders'
            equity                             $          955,089  $          895,100
            ==================  ==================
            Lithia Motors, Inc.
            Summarized Cash Flow from Operations (Unaudited)
            (In thousands)
            Nine Months Ended
            September 30,
            --------------------
            2010       2009
            ---------  ---------
            Net income                                            $   9,340  $  10,705
            Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided
            by (used in) operating activities:
            Asset impairments                                        14,751      7,164
            Depreciation and amortization                            13,397     12,452
            Amortization of debt discount                                 -         48
            Stock-based compensation                                  1,450      1,584
            Gain on early extinguishment of debt                          -     (1,317)
            (Gain) loss on disposal of assets                           235     (7,982)
            Deferred income taxes                                    (2,610)     1,006
            Excess tax deficit (benefit) from share-based
            payment arrangements                                       (89)        45
            (Increase) decrease, net of effect of acquisitions
            and divestitures
            Trade receivables, net                               (11,045)    11,032
            Contracts in transit                                  (6,709)     8,900
            Inventories                                          (55,359)   167,545
            Vehicles leased to others                             (1,870)       696
            Prepaid expenses and other                             2,564     19,136
            Other non-current assets                              (1,124)         7
            Increase (decrease), net of effect of acquisitions
            and divestitures
            Floorplan notes payable                                2,338   (170,803)
            Trade payables                                         6,167       (431)
            Accrued liabilities                                   11,181      4,680
            Other long-term liabilities and deferred revenue         623      9,016
            ---------  ---------
            Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities   $ (16,760) $  73,483
            Lithia Motors, Inc.
            Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Cash Flow from Operations (Unaudited)
            (In thousands)
            Nine Months Ended
            September 30,
            ---------------------
            Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities      2010       2009
            ---------  ----------
            As reported                                           $ (16,760) $   73,483
            Floorplan notes payable, non-trade                    13,807       7,384
            ---------  ----------
            Adjusted                                              $  (2,953) $   80,867
            Lithia Motors, Inc.
            Other Highlights (Unaudited)
            (In thousands except per share data)
            September      December
            30, 2010       31, 2009
            ------------   ------------
            Other information
            Lt debt/total cap              47.2%          43.2%
            Adjusted Lt debt/
            total cap
            (excludes mortgage
            financing)                   12.0%           0.9%
            Book value per
            outstanding share     $      12.01   $      11.90
            Debt covenant ratios
            Requirement          As of September 30, 2010
            --------------------------  ------------------------
            Minimum tangible
            net worth             Not less than $200 million            $266.2 million
            Vehicle equity          Not less than $65 million            $195.6 million
            Fixed charge
            coverage ratio           Not less than 1.20 to 1                 1.60 to 1
            Liabilities to
            tangible net
            worth ratio              Not more than 4.00 to 1                 2.41 to 1
            Lithia Motors, Inc.
            Reconciliation of Certain Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)
            (In thousands)
            Three months ended   Nine months ended
            September 30,        September 30,
            --------------------  --------------------
            2010       2009       2010       2009
            ---------- ---------  ---------  ---------
            Selling, general &
            administrative
            As reported                     $   77,468 $  71,557  $ 223,320  $ 209,469
            Impairments and disposal
            gain                                 -      (393)       365       (956)
            Lease termination and
            severance reserve                    -         -     (1,334)         -
            ---------- ---------  ---------  ---------
            Adjusted                        $   77,468 $  71,164  $ 222,351  $ 208,513
            Income from operations
            As reported                     $   23,238 $  18,086  $  35,132  $  32,487
            Impairments and disposal
            gain                                 -     2,360     14,451      8,120
            Lease termination and
            severance reserve                    -         -      1,334          -
            ---------- ---------  ---------  ---------
            Adjusted                        $   23,238 $  20,446  $  50,917  $  40,607
            Income (loss) from continuing
            operations before income taxes
            As reported                     $   16,501 $  11,767  $  16,243  $  14,667
            Impairments and disposal
            gain                                 -     2,360     14,451      8,120
            Lease termination and
            severance reserve                    -         -      1,334          -
            Gain on extinguishment of
            debt                                 -         -          -     (1,317)
            ---------- ---------  ---------  ---------
            Adjusted                        $   16,501 $  14,127  $  32,028  $  21,470
            Lithia Motors, Inc.
            Reconciliation of Certain Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)
            (In thousands except per share data)
            Adjusted net income/(loss) and diluted earnings per share
            Three Months Ended September 30,
            Net income/(loss)    Diluted earnings per share
            ------------------------  ------------------------
            2010         2009         2010         2009
            -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
            Continuing Operations
            As reported             $     9,792  $     6,975  $      0.37  $      0.33
            Impairments and
            disposal gain                  -        1,571            -         0.07
            -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
            Adjusted                $     9,792  $     8,546  $      0.37  $      0.40
            Discontinued Operations
            As reported             $         -  $    (1,262) $         -  $     (0.06)
            Impairments and
            disposal (gain) loss           -          306            -         0.01
            -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
            Adjusted                $         -  $      (956) $         -        (0.05)
            Consolidated Operations
            As reported             $     9,792  $     5,713  $      0.37  $      0.27
            Adjusted                      9,792        7,590         0.37         0.35
            Nine Months Ended September 30,
            Net income/(loss)    Diluted earnings per share
            ------------------------  ------------------------
            2010        2009         2010          2009
            -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
            Continuing Operations
            As reported             $     9,721  $     8,730  $      0.37  $      0.42
            Impairments and
            disposal gain              8,777        5,002         0.34         0.24
            Lease termination
            and severance
            reserve                      725            -         0.03            -
            Gain on
            extinguishment of
            debt                           -         (812)           -        (0.04)
            -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
            Adjusted                $    19,223  $    12,920  $      0.74  $      0.62
            Discontinued Operations
            As reported             $      (381) $     1,975  $     (0.01) $      0.09
            Impairments and
            disposal (gain) loss         173       (5,115)           -        (0.24)
            -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
            Adjusted                $      (208) $    (3,140) $     (0.01) $     (0.15)
            Consolidated Operations
            As reported             $     9,340  $    10,705  $      0.36  $      0.51
            Adjusted                     19,015        9,780         0.73         0.47
            

Contact:
John North
541-618-5748
jnorth@lithia.com

SOURCE: Lithia Motors, Inc.
mailto:jnorth@lithia.com