Headquartered in the District of Columbia, the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA) is the new car dealer group in the Metropolitan Washington Region, one of the most important new car markets in the US. WANADA’s mission is to advance the automobile business and the success of its automobile dealer members and advocate on its behalf before the industry, in the media and in the public policy process at all levels.
It does this with large scale annual events, such as The Washington Auto Show and to a lesser extent with a myriad of member training and education programs. In recent years The Washington Auto Show has become a premier event of its kind on the global auto industry circuit, establishing its position as the “Public Policy Show” and being accredited by the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA) in Paris.
WANADA is comprised of 275 corporate members, which, besides new auto dealerships, consists of Kindred-line or contractor businesses that service auto dealerships. The WANADA organization consists of a non-profit association, WANADA Business Services Corp., The Automobile Dealer Education Institute (ADEI), WANADA Community Support Foundation, WANADA Insurance Services and The Washington Auto Show.
WANADA operates with a 17 member board of directors, several leadership boards, ten committees and 19 staff. WANADA regularly interacts with National Auto Dealer Association, Maryland Auto Dealer Association, and Virginia Auto Dealer Association. It is a member of the Automotive Trade Associations network (ATAE), McLean, VA, which is comprised of dealer associations across North America. WANADA also interacts with the Greater Washington Board of Trade and a number of Chambers of Commerce around the Washington metropolitan region.
WANADA was founded through its predecessor organization known as the Washington Automotive Trade Association in the District of Columbia in 1917. In 1954, WANADA became Automotive Trade Association National Capital Area (ATANCA), changing its name to WANADA in 1996. In the realm of career development, WANADA trains and develops dealership personnel under the auspices of its ADEI. Through its Community Support Foundation, WANADA has been a major supporter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Greater Washington Boys & Girls Clubs. It has also been a long time institutional sponsor of the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) for sober driving and The Greater Washington (Capitol Hill) Soap Box Derby.
Join WANADA
WANADA is comprised of 275 corporate members, which consists of new automobile dealerships as well as “Kindred-line” or contractor businesses that service auto dealerships. The WANADA organization consists of a non-profit association, WANADA Business Services Corporation, Automobile Dealer Education Institute (ADEI), WANADA Community Support Foundation, WANADA Insurance Services and The Washington Auto Show.