content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <!-- Generated by Workiva -->
    <headerData>
      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
      <filerInfo>
        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0001598090</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
  
      </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0001043509</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Sonic Automotive INc</issuerName>
        <secFileNumber>001-13395</secFileNumber>
        <issuerAddress>
          <com:street1>4401 Colwick Road</com:street1>
          <com:city>Charlotte</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NC</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>28211</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>704-566-2400</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>John W Harris III</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Former Affiliate</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Class A Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>J.P. Morgan Securities LLC</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>390 Madison Avenue</com:street1>
            <com:street2>6th Floor</com:street2>
            <com:city>New York</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>NY</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>10017</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>47814</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>2272599.42</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>21857279</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>10/30/2023</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Class A Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>10/14/2015</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>47814</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>10/14/2015</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <remarks>Shares represented on this filing were acquired during 10/14/15 - 04/28/23 and will be sold within 3 months of the date of this filing.</remarks>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>10/30/2023</noticeDate>
        <signature>/s/ J.P. Morgan Securities LLC as agent and attorney-in-fact for John W Harris III</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3033}]
text: 144
  0001598090
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0001043509
  Sonic Automotive INc
  001-13395
  4401 Colwick Road
  Charlotte
  NC
  28211
  704-566-2400
  John W Harris III
  Former Affiliate
  Class A Common
  J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  390 Madison Avenue
  6th Floor
  New York
  NY
  10017
  47814
  2272599.42
  21857279
  10/30/2023
  NYSE
  Class A Common
  10/14/2015
  Stock Award
  Issuer
  N
  47814
  10/14/2015
  Compensation
  Y
  Shares represented on this filing were acquired during 10/14/15 - 04/28/23 and will be sold within 3 months of the date of this filing.
  10/30/2023
  /s/ J.P. Morgan Securities LLC as agent and attorney-in-fact for John W Harris III