The National Automobile Dealers Association, founded in 1917, represents nearly 17,000 new-car and truck dealers, both domestic and international, with about 37,500 separate franchise

Franchising

Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....

s. It is headquartered in McLean, Virginia

McLean, Virginia

McLean is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia. The community had a total population of 48,115 as of the 2010 census....

.

History

The National Automobile Dealers Association (often abbreviated as NADA) was founded in 1917 by a group of dealers determined to lower the luxury tax on automobiles from 5% to 3% by lobbying congress in Washington, DC. After the success in Washington, the group decided to form a permanent union and represent the nation's 15,000 automobile dealers. In July 1917, 130 dealers met in Chicago where they elected George Browne of Milwaukee to be NADA's first president. In 1975, NADA constructed a new corporate headquarters in McLean, Virginia where they currently reside at 8400 Westpark Drive McLean, Virginia 22102.

Association Operations

NADA exists to provide automotive information and advocacy to three groups. Consumers are served by their NADA Guides which provide information about vehicle pricing for new, used, and classic automobiles in addition to motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and manufactured homes. Related to this, the company regularly issues reports and press releases about the automotive market such as analysis of the hybrid car market.

NADA also serves dealers in two ways: by following pricing trends on new and used vehicles as well as providing an advocacy association to represent dealerships before the US Congress and other government agencies. In addition, to further consumer education regarding vehicle financing, NADA is a supporter of Americans Well-informed on Automobile Retailing Economics

Americans Well-informed on Automobile Retailing Economics

AWARE is a national nonprofit organization that was formed in 2005 to enhance consumer understanding of the vehicle financing process..- Background :...

 (AWARE).

Charitable activities

In 1975, NADA established the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation (NADCF). Since it establishment NADCF has given more than $9 million to various groups and organizations. NADA has also established numerous fund and grant programs including the Ambassadors Program, the Emergency Relief Fund, Medical Grants, the Frank E. McCarthy Memorial Fund, the Joseph J. Sanchez Memorial Fund, the John P. Winston Sr. Memorial Fund Memorial Fund, Leadership Council, the Legacy Program, Northwood University Grants, and the Survivors Relief Fund.

Political campaign contributions

According to the Center for Responsive Politics

Center for Responsive Politics

The Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...

, from 1990 to 2006, NADA donated a total of $21,167,642 to political campaigns 31% of which went to Democratic candidates while 69% went to Republican candidates.