AUTOS

Circuit City to Expand Used-Car Superstore Chain: Ending a three-year test, Circuit City Stores Inc. announced plans to open as many as 90 CarMax outlets in 45 metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles, by 2001. CarMax, which lost $6.8 million in its last fiscal year on sales of $304.5 million, operates five stores, including its original store in Richmond, Va., where Circuit City is based. Driver’s Mart, the CarMax rival formed by traditional auto dealers, plans to open 10 used-car superstores nationwide by year-end, and 90 more are planned by the end of 1999. CarMax introduced a catalog-based inventory and no-haggle selling approach, in effect making the purchase of a used car like that of a new TV. CarMax executives said they expect the company’s five original stores to show an operating profit this year.