Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 8)*

(Name of Issuer)

(Title of Class of Securities)

(CUSIP Number)

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Persons Authorized to
Receive Notices and Communications)

(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box. o

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

(1) All shares of Common Stock held by Cascade Investment, L.L.C. (“Cascade”) may be deemed to be beneficially owned by William H. Gates III as the sole member of Cascade.

(1)For purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust (the “Trust”) may be deemed to be beneficially owned by William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates as Co-Trustees of the Trust.

(1)For purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust (the “Trust”) may be deemed to be beneficially owned by William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates as Co-Trustees of the Trust.

(1)All shares of Common Stock held by Cascade Investment, L.L.C. (“Cascade”) may be deemed to be beneficially owned by William H. Gates III as the sole member of Cascade.

(2)For purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust (the “Trust”) may be deemed to be beneficially owned by William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates as Co-Trustees of the Trust.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

This Amendment No. 8 to Schedule 13D (“Amendment”) relates to the Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”) of AutoNation, Inc. (the “Issuer”).  Cascade Investment, L.L.C. (“Cascade”), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust (the “Trust”), William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates (collectively, the “Reporting Persons”), jointly file this Amendment to amend and supplement the Items set forth below of the Reporting Persons’ Schedule 13D previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 5, 2009, as amended on February 6, 2009, February 24, 2010, July 23, 2010, August 17, 2010, February 2, 2011, November 4, 2011 and November 14, 2011.   Neither the present filing nor anything contained herein shall be construed as an admission that the Reporting Persons constitute a “group” for any purpose and the Reporting Persons expressly disclaim membership in a group.

Item 5.    Interest in Securities of the Issuer

(a)     See items 11 and 13 of the cover pages to this Schedule 13D for the aggregate number and percentage of Common Stock beneficially owned by each of the Reporting Persons.

(b)     See items 7 through 10 of the cover pages to this Schedule 13D for the number and percentage of Common Stock beneficially owned by each of the Reporting Persons as to which there is sole power to vote or to direct the vote, shared power to vote or to direct the vote, and sole or shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition.

(c)     Between November 14, 2011 and December 1, 2011, the Trust sold 1,525,402 shares of Common Stock for cash in open market transactions on the dates and at the weighted-average sale price per share set forth in Exhibit 99.1, attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

(d)     None.

(e)     Not applicable.

Item 7.    Material to be Filed as Exhibits

Exhibit 99.1            Transactions by the Trust

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

(1)This Amendment is being filed jointly by the Reporting Persons pursuant to the Joint Filing Agreement dated February 5, 2009 and included with the signature page to the Reporting Persons’ Schedule 13D filed with respect to the Issuer on February 5, 2009, SEC File No. 005-40342 and incorporated by reference herein.

(2)Duly authorized under Special Limited Power of Attorney appointing Alan Heuberger attorney-in-fact, dated August 12, 2008, by and on behalf of Michael Larson, filed as Exhibit 99.1 to Amendment No. 1 to Cascade’s Schedule 13D with respect to Otter Tail Corporation on April 15, 2009, SEC File No. 005-06638 and incorporated by reference herein.

(3)Duly authorized under Special Limited Power of Attorney appointing Alan Heuberger attorney-in-fact, dated August 12, 2008, by and on behalf of William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates as Co Trustees, filed as Exhibit 99.5 to Cascade’s Schedule 13D with respect to Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. on May 7, 2009, SEC File No. 005-60431 and incorporated by reference herein.

(4)Duly authorized under Special Limited Power of Attorney appointing Alan Heuberger attorney-in-fact, dated August 12, 2008, by and on behalf of William H. Gates III, filed as Exhibit 99.2 to Amendment No. 1 to Cascade’s Schedule 13D with respect to Otter Tail Corporation on April 15, 2009, SEC File No. 005-06638 and incorporated by reference herein.