National Automobile Dealers Association

National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) is a U.S. trade association that lobbies, channels political contributions, and engages in public relations on behalf of its car dealer members. According to its website, NADA "represents more than 17,000 new car and truck dealers, both domestic and import, with more than 37,500 separate franchises. Today, more than 91 percent of U.S. new-vehicle dealers are NADA members. New-car dealers employ about 1 million people in the United States."

Work
According to their website:
 * Legislative Affairs represents new-car and -truck dealer interests before the U.S. Congress, including a wide range of business, trade, energy and environmental issues that could impact the success of their businesses and the security of the more than 1 million people they employ.
 * Regulatory Affairs protects and promotes franchised car and truck dealership interests before the federal administrative agencies. Each year, Regulatory Affairs monitors and analyzes hundreds of federal regulatory issues and proposals, evaluating them for potential dealership impacts.
 * Industry Relations addresses all major issues affecting dealer/manufacturer relations. Industry Relations promotes communication between manufacturers and member dealers via franchise-specific meetings and NADA's exclusive biannual dealer attitude survey.
 * Public Affairs is responsible for media and public relations, marketing and communications, both print and online. Public Affairs publishes a number of newsletters, including Legislative Update, Washington Insider, and Regulatory Review. Electronic publications include NADA Headlines.
 * Information Technology assists dealers in understanding information technology issues, including use of the Internet, and acquiring the best available technologies at competitive prices.
 * NADA Used Car Guide provides used-vehicle valuation products and services to the auto, finance, fleet/lease, government, and insurance industries.
 * Dealers Election Action Committee, NADA's political action committee, helps dealers contribute to the political election campaigns of pro-business, pro-dealer candidates for election or re-election to the U.S. Congress.

Political contributions
The Association gave $2,860,000 to federal candidates in the 2008 election cycle through its political action committee - 34% to Democrats and 64% to Republicans. In 2010 it gave $2,133,400 - 47% to Democrats and 53% to Republicans.

Lobbying
The Association spent $3,020,000 for lobbying in 2009. Two outside lobbying firms used were ML Strategies and Prime Policy Group.

Personnel
Accessed December 2010:
 * Edward C. Tonkin, Chairman
 * Stephen Wade, Vice Chairman
 * Phillip D. Brady, President
 * David F. Hyatt, Vice President and Chief Public Affairs Officer
 * David W. Regan, Vice President, Legislative Affairs

Contact details
8400 Westpark Drive McLean, VA 22102 Phone: 703-821-7000 Email: nadainfo AT nada.org Web: http://nada.org

Related SourceWatch articles

 * The Energy Initiative, front group of which NADA is a member

External articles

 * Kimberly Graber, "US Chamber of Commerce, National Automobile Dealers Association Seek Review of EPA Decision Allowing States to Regulate Emissions", Global Climate Blog, October 22, 2009.

External resources

 * National Automobile Dealers Association profile, Open Secrets, accessed December 2010.