The NADA story began in 1917 when 30 auto dealers traveled to the nation’s capital to convince Congress not to impose a luxury tax on the automobile. They successfully argued that the automobile is a necessity of American life, not a luxury. From that experience was born the National Automobile Dealers Association. Today, NADA represents nearly 16,000 new-car and -truck dealerships with about 32,500 franchises, both domestic and international.
NADA: A Brief History
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1917: NADA is launched from successful dealer effort to cut vehicle luxury tax from 5 percent to 3 percent. |
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1918: NADA holds first annual meeting in Chicago, sets up HQ in St. Louis, gets first major legislation—National Motor Vehicle Theft Law—and soon starts publishing NADA Bulletin, precursor to NADA’s AutoExec. |
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1931: NADA creates first factory-dealer contracts. |
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1933: N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide debuts (40,000 copies); NADA membership is at a Depression-low 2,200, but, with FDR’s help, jumps to 20,000 the next year. |
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1941: NADA moves from Detroit to Washington, D.C. |
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1944: "NADA Battalions"—association-recruited mechanics—involved in D-day invasion of Normandy. |
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 1952: NADA president appears on Ed Sullivan program (to encourage voting).
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1954: NADA lobbies for dealer exemptions to Taft-Hartley and for eliminating automakers’ "phantom freight" charges. |
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1956: NADA launches insurance program (later NADIT) and, the next year, retirement plan (later NADART). |
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1960: First quality dealer award (from Saturday Evening Post) given at NADA convention. |
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1968: Frank E. McCarthy begins 33-year career as chief executive; 20 Groups launched and, two years later, American Truck Dealers formed. |
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 1975: NADA builds McLean, Va., HQ; launches Dealers Election Action Committee and Legal Defense Fund.
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1977: Charitable foundation established. |
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1979: Doors open at Dealer Academy. |
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1984: First dealer attitude survey. |
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1986: NADA gets Superfund exemption for dealers who collect used oil from do-it-yourselfers. |
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1987: NADA backs anti–odometer tampering law. |
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1996: NADA makes online debut; forms IT committee; helps get luxury tax phaseout law. |
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1997: NADA persuades IRS to let dealers settle LIFO violations. |
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2000: NADA redesigns and renames magazine AutoExec; debuts website offering Internet links to dealers around the country. |
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2001 : Longtime NADA president Frank McCarthy dies; Phillip D. Brady is named president; NADA-backed phaseout of estate tax becomes law. |