Volkswagen of Panama City now operates as Group 1 Volkswagen of Panama City, with the same team and location
PANAMA CITY, July 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Florida Panhandle dealership known as Volkswagen of Panama City has added the Group 1 name to its own, operating as Group 1 Volkswagen of Panama City since November 13, 2025. The update reflects a nationwide effort by Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Houston-based retailer with dealerships across the U.S. and U.K., to bring its stores under one recognizable brand.
For a store Group 1 has operated for more than a decade, the addition of the Group 1 name changes little beyond the sign: the local Volkswagen team and customer relationships remain in place.
Backed by the scale, resources, and expertise of an international automotive retailer, Group 1 Automotive remains focused on delivering the personalized service and community connections that define the local dealership experience. Learn more at Group1Auto.com.
Better Customer Experience
Ownership, staffing, product offerings, and daily operations were unaffected by the update. Customers continue to work with the same local professionals.
Group 1 Automotive has owned and operated the Panama City dealership for more than a decade, and prefixing the Group 1 name ties the store more clearly to the company's national platform.
"Our name barely changed — we've simply added Group 1 in front of it — and neither did our team or our service," said Shane Beardsly, General Manager of Group 1 Volkswagen of Panama City. "For Volkswagen drivers across the Florida Panhandle, the update mainly makes our connection to a national retailer clearer."
Continuity of Service and Local Commitment
Group 1 Volkswagen of Panama City continues to operate from 3605 East 15th Street, serving Panama City, Lynn Haven, Callaway, and the surrounding Florida Panhandle with new Volkswagen vehicles, pre-owned inventory, and Volkswagen service, parts, and maintenance.
The store's local relationships are unchanged, now recognized under a unified Group 1 brand across markets.
Additional Customer Questions
Why does the name now begin with Group 1?
On November 13, 2025, the store adopted the Group 1 Volkswagen of Panama City name, adding the Group 1 prefix as part of the company's effort to standardize naming across its U.S. dealerships. The team, location, and service are unchanged. Group 1's network includes 251 dealerships and 37 vehicle brands, offering new and pre-owned sales, financing, service, parts, and collision support.