Shares of Republic Industries surged 7.5 percent today, following the announcement that the company, the nation's largest car dealership owner, had reached an agreement with Toyota.

This summer it was displeased after Republic Industries made a $4 billion offer, or $25 a share in stock, to buy ADT.

But the recent wave of dealership purchases by publicly traded companies like Republic Industries has begun to produce some consolidation in dealerships.

In 1981, Republic Industries was created, specializing in waste disposal.

From this sale of 36% of Republic Services, Republic Industries netted $1.4 billion.

Republic Industries said yesterday that it had agreed to buy Carchoice Inc., an operator of used-car superstores, for $95 million in stock.

Republic Industries fell 2 3/8, to 26 3/4.

And now he's building Republic Industries, last year a humble garbage-hauler, into a giant.

While he was at it, he bemoaned the incursions of auto giants and corporations like Republic Industries into selling cars.

Most recently, he has built Republic Industries into a giant of auto sales and rentals.