<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001628280-26-030729.txt : 20260505
<SEC-HEADER>0001628280-26-030729.hdr.sgml : 20260505
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20260505171553
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001628280-26-030729
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	S-8 POS
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		3
FILED AS OF DATE:		20260505
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20260505
EFFECTIVENESS DATE:		20260505

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001043509
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-AUTO DEALERS & GASOLINE STATIONS [5500]
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	07 Trade & Services
		EIN:				562010790
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		S-8 POS
		SEC ACT:		1933 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-204027
		FILM NUMBER:		26944614

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4401 COLWICK ROAD
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28211
		BUSINESS PHONE:		704-566-2400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4401 COLWICK ROAD
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28211
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>S-8 POS
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>sonicforms-82012postxeffec.htm
<DESCRIPTION>S-8 POS
<TEXT>
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<title>Document</title></head><body><div id="i6fc00e78a53c4d45988947d1f087e7f7_1"></div><div style="min-height:18pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">                                                                                                                        </font></div><div style="padding-left:17.27pt;padding-right:17.27pt;text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:98.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:3pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"><div style="padding-left:23pt;padding-right:23pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></td></tr><tr style="height:6pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:2pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"><div style="margin-top:2pt;padding-left:23pt;padding-right:23pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></td></tr></table></div><div style="margin-top:4pt;padding-left:22.5pt;padding-right:18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:18pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">UNITED STATES </font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:18pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Washington,&#160;D.C. 20549</font></div><div style="margin-top:3pt;padding-left:30.67pt;padding-right:30.67pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:80%">_________________</font></div><div style="margin-top:1pt;padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:14.4pt;padding-right:14.4pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:28.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">No. 333-256891</font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:28.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:28.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">No. 333-232177</font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:28.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:28.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">No. 333-204027</font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:28.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:28.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:112%">No. 333-180814</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</font></div><div style="padding-left:30.67pt;padding-right:30.67pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:90%">&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:90%">_________________</font></div><div style="margin-top:2pt;padding-left:28.8pt;padding-right:34.35pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:24pt;font-weight:700;line-height:90%">SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:90%">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></div><div style="margin-top:3pt;padding-left:30.67pt;padding-right:30.67pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:90%">&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:90%">_________________</font></div><div style="padding-left:28.8pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:95.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:48.753%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.115%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:47.732%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:0.37pt;padding-right:0.37pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Delaware</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:0.4pt;padding-right:0.4pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">56-2010790</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:0.37pt;padding-right:0.37pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(State or other jurisdiction of<br>incorporation or organization)</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:0.4pt;padding-right:0.4pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(I.R.S. Employer<br>Identification No.)</font></div></td></tr></table></div><div style="padding-left:28.8pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:95.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:48.753%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.115%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:47.732%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:0.37pt;padding-right:0.37pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">4401 Colwick Road</font></div><div style="padding-left:0.37pt;padding-right:0.37pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Charlotte, North Carolina</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:0.4pt;padding-right:0.4pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:0.4pt;padding-right:0.4pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">28211</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:0.37pt;padding-right:0.37pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:0.4pt;padding-right:0.4pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Zip Code)</font></div></td></tr></table></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:80%">_________________</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Sonic Automotive, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Sonic Automotive, Inc. 2026 Equity Incentive Plan</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Full title of the plan)</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.67pt;padding-right:31.67pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:80%">_________________</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Stephen K. Coss</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Senior Vice President and General Counsel</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Sonic Automotive, Inc.</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">4401 Colwick Road</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Charlotte, North Carolina 28211</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Name and address of agent for service)</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:80%">_________________</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">(704)&#160;566-2400 </font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:400;line-height:80%">(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)</font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:80%">_________________</font></div><div style="padding-left:28.8pt;padding-right:34.35pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:31.57pt;padding-right:31.57pt;text-align:center"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Copies to&#58;</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:3pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">D. Ryan Hart, Esq.</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Moore &#38; Van Allen PLLC</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">100 North Tryon Street, Suite 4700</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Charlotte, North Carolina 28202-4003</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">(704) 331-1000</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:3pt;padding-left:30.67pt;padding-right:30.67pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:80%">&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:80%">_________________</font></div><div style="padding-left:27.35pt;padding-right:27.35pt"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of &#8220;large accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;smaller reporting company,&#8221; and &#8220;emerging growth company&#8221; in Rule&#160;12b-2 of the Exchange Act. </font></div><div style="padding-left:28.8pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:86.250%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:20.800%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.249%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:26.114%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.732%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:37.064%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.249%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:6.792%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.7pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Large accelerated filer</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#9746;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accelerated filer</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#9744;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.7pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-accelerated filer</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#9744;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Smaller reporting company</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#9744;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="9" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"><div style="padding-left:24pt;padding-right:2.75pt;text-indent:-24pt"><font><br></font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Emerging growth company</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-right:0.8pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#9744;</font></div></td></tr></table></div><div style="padding-left:27.35pt;padding-right:27.35pt"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  &#9744;</font></div><div style="padding-left:22.5pt;padding-right:18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:98.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:3pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"><div style="padding-left:23pt;padding-right:23pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:2pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"><div style="margin-top:1pt;padding-left:23pt;padding-right:23pt;text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></td></tr></table></div><div style="height:18pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div><div id="i6fc00e78a53c4d45988947d1f087e7f7_4"></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:63.36pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">EXPLANATORY NOTE</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:10pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Sonic Automotive, Inc. (the &#8220;Registrant&#8221;) previously filed Registration Statements on Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-256891, 333-232177, 333-204027 and 333-180814) with respect to shares of the Registrant&#8217;s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the &#8220;Common Stock&#8221;), issuable under the Sonic Automotive, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan (the &#8220;2012 Stock Incentive Plan&#8221;).</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:10pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">On April 29, 2026 (the &#8220;Approval Date&#8221;), the Registrant&#8217;s stockholders approved the Sonic Automotive, Inc. 2026 Equity Incentive Plan (the &#8220;2026 Equity Incentive Plan&#8221;) and, in connection therewith, no further awards will be made under the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan. The total number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan includes, in addition to 2,000,000 new shares (registered concurrently on a new registration statement on Form S-8)&#58; (i) 318,148 shares available for issuance but not issued or subject to outstanding awards under the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan as of the Approval Date and (ii) an aggregate of up to 889,020 shares subject to awards under the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan as of the Approval Date that subsequently cease to be subject to such awards, such as by expiration, cancellation, forfeiture or cash settlement of the awards (together, the &#8220;Prior Plan Shares&#8221;).</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">In accordance with Item 512(a)(1)(iii) of Regulation S-K and Compliance and Disclosure Interpretation 126.43, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-256891, Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-232177, Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-204027 and Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-180814 (together the &#8220;Post-Effective Amendments&#8221;) are hereby filed to cover the issuance of the Prior Plan Shares pursuant to the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">PART I</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a)(3) PROSPECTUS</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be sent or given to participants in the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#8220;Securities Act&#8221;). In accordance with the Note to Part I of Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;Commission&#8221;) either as part of this registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 of the Securities Act. These documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this registration statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II hereof, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">PART II</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:54pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-54pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Item 3.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Except as indicated below, the following documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission are incorporated by reference in this registration statement&#58;</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:12pt;padding-left:72pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:32.15pt">the Registrant&#8217;s </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001043509/000162828026010570/sah-20251231.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Annual Report on Form 10-K</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025&#59;</font></div><div style="height:69.12pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">1</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:63.36pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="margin-bottom:12pt;padding-left:72pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:32.15pt">the Registrant&#8217;s </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001043509/000162828026028847/sah-20260430.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2026&#59;</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:12pt;padding-left:72pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:32.15pt">the Registrant&#8217;s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001043509/000162828026007898/sah-20260211.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">February 13, 2026</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">, </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001043509/000162828026023135/sah-20260327.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">April 2, 2026</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> and </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001043509/000162828026029314/sah-20260429.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">May 1, 2026</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#59; and</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:12pt;padding-left:72pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:32.15pt">the description of the Registrant&#8217;s Common Stock contained in </font><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000162828026010570/exhibit412025.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Exhibit 4.1</a></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> to the Registrant&#8217;s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 23, 2026, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#8220;Exchange Act&#8221;), other than those Current Reports on Form 8-K or portions thereof which &#8220;furnish&#8221; information pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and any exhibits &#8220;furnished&#8221; in connection therewith, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Any statement contained herein or in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein, or in any subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such earlier statement.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">  </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:54pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-54pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Item 4.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Description of Securities.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Not applicable.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:54pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-54pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Item 5.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Not applicable.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:54pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-54pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Item 6.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Set forth below is a description of certain provisions of the Registrant&#8217;s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the &#8220;Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation&#8221;), the Registrant&#8217;s Amended and Restated Bylaws (the &#8220;Amended and Restated Bylaws&#8221;) and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the &#8220;DGCL&#8221;), as such provisions relate to the indemnification of the directors and officers of the Registrant.  This description is intended only as a summary and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Amended and Restated Bylaws and the DGCL.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys&#8217; fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if such person acted in good </font></div><div style="height:69.12pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">2</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:63.36pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person&#8217;s conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of an action by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person is adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought determines upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court deems proper.  The Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that the Registrant will indemnify and advance expenses to its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation to include a provision in its certificate of incorporation eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director or officer to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, provided that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of (i)&#160;a director or officer for any breach of the director&#8217;s or officer&#8217;s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders&#59; (ii)&#160;a director or officer for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law&#59; (iii)&#160;a director for unlawful payment of dividends or purchase or redemption of shares&#59; (iv)&#160;a director or officer for any transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit&#59; or (v)&#160;an officer in any action by or in the right of the corporation.  The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation contains a provision limiting the personal liability of the Registrant&#8217;s directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Section 145 of the DGCL also permits a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation.  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8.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Exhibits.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.745%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:3.525%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.437%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:82.153%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.440%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.37pt;padding-right:2.37pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Exhibit No.</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Description</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:8pt"><td colspan="12" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.1&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:12pt;padding-right:-2.63pt"><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000104350921000004/exhibit31123120.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Sonic Automotive, Inc., dated August&#160;7, 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&#160;3.1 to the Annual Report on Form&#160;10-K for the year ended December&#160;31, 2020).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.2&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:12pt;padding-right:-2.63pt"><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000156459017007512/sah-ex33_315.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Sonic Automotive, Inc., dated June&#160;16, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&#160;3.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form&#160;10-Q for the quarter ended March&#160;31, 2017).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.3&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:12pt;padding-right:-2.63pt"><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000156459017007512/sah-ex34_316.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Sonic Automotive, Inc., dated April&#160;18, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&#160;3.4 to the Quarterly Report on Form&#160;10-Q for the quarter ended March&#160;31, 2017).</a></font></div></td></tr></table></div><div style="height:69.12pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">3</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:63.36pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.745%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:3.525%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.437%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:82.153%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.440%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.4&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:12pt;padding-right:-2.63pt"><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000104350921000012/exhibit44.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Sonic Automotive, Inc., dated May&#160;3, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed June 8, 2021).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.5&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:12pt;padding-right:-2.63pt"><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000104350923000014/q22023exhibit36.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Sonic Automotive, Inc., dated May&#160;16, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&#160;3.6 to the Quarterly Report on Form&#160;10-Q for the quarter ended June&#160;30, 2023).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.6&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:12pt;padding-right:-2.63pt"><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000104350921000001/amendedandrestatedbylaws.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Amended and Restated Bylaws of Sonic Automotive, Inc., dated February&#160;10, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&#160;3.1 to the Current Report on Form&#160;8-K filed February&#160;12, 2021).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.7&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-right:-2.63pt"><font style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/0000950168-97-003028.txt" style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Specimen Class&#160;A Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&#160;4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form&#160;S-1&#47;A filed October&#160;17, 1997).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">5.1&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000119312512168787/d336723dex5.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Opinion of Dykema Gossett PLLC as to the legality of the securities being registered with respect to the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 5 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on April 18, 2012).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">5.2&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000119312515179828/d923238dex51.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Opinion of Moore &#38; Van Allen PLLC as to the legality of the securities being registered with respect to the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on May 8, 2015).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">5.3&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000104350919000002/exhibit51mvaopinion.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Opinion of Moore &#38; Van Allen PLLC as to the legality of the securities being registered with respect to the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on June 18, 2019).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">5.4&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000104350921000012/exhibit51.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Opinion of Moore &#38; Van Allen PLLC as to the legality of the securities being registered with respect to the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on June 8, 2021).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">5.5*</font></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="a2026mvaopinionformposs-8.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Opinion of Moore &#38; Van Allen PLLC.</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">23.1*</font></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="gts-8poaconsent.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Consent of Grant Thornton LLP.</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">23.2&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Consent of Dykema Gossett PLLC (included in Exhibit 5.2)</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">23.3*</font></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="a2026mvaopinionformposs-8.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Consent of Moore &#38; Van Allen PLLC (included in Exhibits 5.2. 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5).</a></font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">99.1&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000104350921000011/exhibit101tosonicformdated.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Sonic Automotive, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan, amended and restated as of February 10, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 3, 2021).</a></font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">99.2&#160;</font></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:12pt;padding-right:-2.63pt"><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1043509/000162828026029314/exhibit101-sah2026equityin.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Sonic Automotive, Inc. 2026 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 1, 2026).</a></font></div></td></tr></table></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="margin-top:6pt;padding-left:18pt;padding-right:-36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">*&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Filed herewith.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:54pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-54pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Item 9.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Undertakings.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes&#58; </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement&#58;</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt;padding-left:36pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act&#59; </font></div><div style="height:69.12pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">4</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:63.36pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt;padding-left:36pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the &#8220;Calculation of Filing Fee Tables&#8221; in the effective registration statement.</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt;padding-left:36pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement&#59; </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">provided, however</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant&#8217;s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan&#8217;s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:11pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:69.12pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">5</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:63.36pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">SIGNATURES</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Charlotte, State of North Carolina, on this 5th day of May, 2026.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:216pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:216pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">By&#58;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; Heath R. Byrd&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:238.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Heath R. Byrd</font></div><div style="padding-left:238.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Executive Vice President and </font></div><div style="padding-left:238.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Chief Financial Officer</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;margin-top:6pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on this 5th day of May, 2026&#58;</font></div><div style="padding-left:36.9pt;text-indent:36pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:96.153%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:40.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:56.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 3.77pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Signature</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 3.77pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Title</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; David Bruton Smith&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">David Bruton Smith</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Chairman and Chief Executive Officer</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(Principal Executive Officer)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; Jeff Dyke&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Jeff Dyke</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">President and Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; Heath R. Byrd&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Heath R. Byrd</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; William I. Belk&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">William I. Belk</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; William R. Brooks&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">William R. Brooks</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; Michael Hodge&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Michael Hodge</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; Keri A. Kaiser&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Keri A. Kaiser</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; B. Scott Smith&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">B. Scott Smith</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; Marcus G. Smith&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Marcus G. Smith</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; Eugene Taylor&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">R. Eugene Taylor</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.77pt;padding-right:2.77pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Director</font></div></td></tr></table></div><div style="height:69.12pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">6</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div></div></div></body></html>
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<title>Document</title></head><body><div id="i4337e6e495224326bdf508bd10e55beb_42"></div><div style="min-height:99.36pt;width:100%"><div style="text-align:right"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:right"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Exhibit 5.5</font></div><div style="text-align:right"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:right"><font><br></font></div></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">May 5, 2026</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Sonic Automotive, Inc.</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">4401 Colwick Road</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Charlotte, North Carolina 28211</font></div><div style="padding-left:22.3pt;text-indent:-22.3pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Re&#58;  &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Sonic Automotive, Inc. &#8211; Post-Effective Amendments to Registration Statement on Form S-8</font></div><div style="padding-left:54pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Ladies and Gentlemen&#58;</font></div><div style="text-indent:24.5pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We have acted as counsel to Sonic Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Company</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#8221;), in connection with Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-256891, Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-232177, Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-204027 and Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-180814 (together the &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Post-Effective Amendments</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#8221;) that are being filed on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Commission</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#8221;) by the Company pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Securities Act</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#8221;), with respect to the Prior Plan Shares (as defined below), which may be issued pursuant to the Sonic Automotive, Inc. 2026 Equity Inventive Plan (the&#160;&#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">2026 Equity Incentive Plan</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#8221;).</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">On April 29, 2026, (the &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Approval Date</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#8221;), the Company&#8217;s stockholders approved the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan and, in connection therewith, no further awards will be made under the Sonic Automotive, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan (the &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Prior Plan</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#8221;). The total number of shares of the Company&#8217;s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, authorized for issuance under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan includes, in addition to 2,000,000 new shares (registered concurrently on a new registration statement on Form S-8)&#58; (i) 318,148 shares available for issuance but not issued or subject to outstanding awards under the Prior Plan as of the Approval Date and (ii) an aggregate of up to 889,020 shares subject to awards under the Prior Plan as of the Approval Date that subsequently cease to be subject to such awards, such as by expiration, cancellation, forfeiture or cash settlement of the awards (the shares described in (i) and (ii), the &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Prior Plan Shares</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#8221;).</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">In rendering our opinion, we have examined, and are familiar with, and have relied as to factual matters solely upon, originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records or other instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of the opinion set forth herein, including, without limitation (i)&#160;the Post-Effective Amendments, (ii)&#160;the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan, (iii)&#160;the Company&#8217;s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, (iv)&#160;the Company&#8217;s Amended and Restated Bylaws and (v)&#160;certain actions of the Company&#8217;s board of directors and stockholders reflected in the Company&#8217;s minute book (collectively, the &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Registration Documents</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#8221;).</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:72pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:99.36pt;width:100%"><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Sonic Automotive, Inc.</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">May 5, 2026</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Page 2</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">In rendering our opinion, we have assumed the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons executing documents and certificates submitted to us, the genuineness of all signatures, the compliance with fiduciary duties, the authenticity of original and certified documents submitted to us, and the conformity to original or certified documents of all copies submitted to us as conformed or reproduction copies.  As to various questions of fact relevant to the opinion expressed herein, we have relied upon, and assumed the accuracy and completeness of, statements contained in the Registration Documents and certificates or comparable documents and oral or written statements and other information of or from public officials and officers and representatives of the Company and others.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Prior Plan Shares have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued and sold by the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions of the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The opinion expressed herein is limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as currently in effect, and no opinion is expressed with respect to such law as subsequently amended, or any other laws, or any effect that such amended or other laws may have on the opinion expressed herein.  The opinion expressed herein is limited to the matters stated herein and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein.  The opinion expressed herein is given as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to advise you of any changes in applicable laws after the date hereof or of any facts that might change the opinion expressed herein that we may become aware of after the date hereof or for any other reason.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter with the Commission as Exhibit&#160;5.5 to the Post-Effective Amendments.  In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of such persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Commission.</font></div><div style="text-indent:24.5pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Very truly yours,</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#47;s&#47; MOORE &#38; VAN ALLEN PLLC</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">MOORE &#38; VAN ALLEN PLLC</font></div><div style="height:72pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div></body></html>
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<TYPE>EX-23.1
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<DESCRIPTION>EX-23.1
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<title>Document</title></head><body><div id="i14e437c3d0474573b97cce58dd04ebd4_42"></div><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div style="text-align:right"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Exhibit 23.1</font></div></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We have issued our reports dated February 23, 2026, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting of Sonic Automotive, Inc. included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, which are incorporated by reference in these Post-Effective Amendments to the Registration Statements on Form S-8. We consent to the incorporation by reference of the aforementioned reports in these Post-Effective Amendments to the Registration Statements on Form S-8.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#47;s&#47; GRANT THORNTON LLP</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Charlotte, North Carolina&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">May 5, 2026</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="height:72pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div></body></html>
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