FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0104
Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  SMITH MARCUS G
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
06/16/2015
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
SONIC AUTOMOTIVE INC [SAH]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
5555 CONCORD PARKWAY SOUTH
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director __X__ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

CONCORD, NC 28207
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Class A Common Stock 69,686 (1)
I
As a member of SMDA Development 1, LLC

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Class B Common Stock   (2)   (2) Class A Common Stock 8,881,250 (3) $ (2) I by SFC

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
SMITH MARCUS G
5555 CONCORD PARKWAY SOUTH
CONCORD, NC 28207
    X    

Signatures

/s/ Marcus G. Smith 06/24/2015
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class A Common Stock held by SMDA Development 1, LLC, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
(2) Shares of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class B Common Stock are convertible into shares of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class A Common Stock on a 1-for-1 basis at the option of the reporting person and there is no expiration date.
(3) The reported securities are held by Sonic Financial Corporation ("SFC"), a North Carolina corporation of which the reporting person is a shareholder and an executive officer. Represents the entire amount of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class B Common Stock held by SFC. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of Sonic Automotive, Inc.'s Class B Common Stock held by SFC, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, See Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.