Colorado Automobile Dealers Association

What Colorado Automobile Dealers Association does

The Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1933 and incorporated in 1938, headquartered at 290 E. Speer Blvd. in Denver, Colorado. The organization represents 260 franchised new car, truck, and powersports dealers across Colorado, organized into 8 districts aligned with the state's US Congressional Districts. CADA operates as the unified voice for Colorado's automotive retail industry, providing legislative advocacy at state and federal levels, regulatory compliance assistance, educational programs, networking opportunities, and consumer complaint mediation services (achieving a nearly 75% pre-escalation resolution rate).

CADA's product and service portfolio spans four core areas. Membership products include Dealer Member subscriptions (dues scaled to prior-year new vehicle sales and leases), Allied Member subscriptions for non-dealer industry businesses, and an Endorsed Providers Program with 19+ vetted service providers across insurance, DMS, compliance, cybersecurity, warranty reimbursement, retirement, and credit processing. Compliance and regulatory products include the Colorado Dealer Compliance Guide (covering 50+ topics, $249), state salesperson licensing exams administered on behalf of the Auto Industry Division, and bonds/forms services for dealer ($50,000) and salesperson ($15,000) surety requirements. Content products include the monthly Above the Fold newsletter, monthly CADA Bulletin policy magazine, and quarterly Colorado Auto Outlook market data report. Signature events include the Colorado Auto Show (since 1902, 22 manufacturers in 2026), the Colorado Automotive Hall of Fame ceremony, and the Clear the Air Foundation Golf Event.

The organization's business model is membership-dues-based (subscription recurring), supplemented by endorsed provider royalties, event sponsorships, compliance guide sales, and bond administration fees. CADA employs 11 staff (9 direct reports plus CEO/President Matthew Groves and COO Mary Aboud) and is led by a CEO/President, VP of Finance, and six directors covering operations, insurance, member services, Clear the Air Foundation, and communications. No public financials are disclosed.

Name

Colorado Automobile Dealers Association

Legal name

Colorado Auto Dealers Association

Website

https://colorado.auto

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) is a 1933-founded non-profit trade association representing 260 franchised new car, truck, and powersports dealers across Colorado, providing legislative advocacy, regulatory compliance support, education, events, and an endorsed service provider ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: CADA generates revenue primarily through membership dues from Dealer Members and Allied Members. Dealer Member dues are based on the dealership's new vehicle sales and leases for the previous year. Allied Members pay annual dues. The organization also generates revenue through endorsed provider royalties, event sponsorships, compliance guide sales, and bonds/forms services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CADA is a non-profit trade association that delivers legislative advocacy, regulatory compliance assistance, educational training, and networking services to its 260 franchised new car, truck, and powersports dealer members across Colorado. It also administers state-required salesperson testing, supplies dealer and salesperson surety bonds, publishes the Colorado Dealer Compliance Guide and Above the Fold newsletter, runs the annual Colorado Auto Show and Hall of Fame, and curates an Endorsed Providers Program that connects dealers with vetted third-party service partners.

Product overview

The Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) is a trade association serving franchised automobile dealers across Colorado, not a technology product company. CADA provides a suite of membership-based services including legislative advocacy, regulatory compliance assistance, educational programs, and professional development. The association operates annual events including the Colorado Auto Show and Colorado Automotive Hall of Fame. Supporting services include salesperson testing, dealer bonds and forms, and the Colorado Dealer Compliance Guide. The organization publishes the Above the Fold monthly newsletter and quarterly Colorado Auto Outlook report. CADA also maintains an Endorsed Providers Program that vets third-party service providers for member dealers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CADA Dealer Membership
• CADA Allied Membership
• Legislative Advocacy Services
• Regulatory and Compliance Assistance
• CADA On-Demand Education and Training
• Bonds and Forms Service
• Salesperson Testing Service
• Colorado Dealer Compliance Guide

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 75% success rate in mediating consumer complaints between dealers and consumers before complaints reach the Division

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCADA works closely with NADA on legislative matters, federal resources, and industry advocacy. Dealers have access to NADA's national perspective and resources. CADA also participates in NADA's annual Legislative Conference in Washington, DC.
• Clear the Air FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCADA partners with the Clear the Air Foundation, an environmental initiative. CADA staff includes a Director of Clear the Air Foundation. The foundation hosts an annual golf tournament fundraiser.
• American FidelitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsed Provider offering supplemental employee benefits to member dealerships.
• Armatus Dealer UpliftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsed Provider for retail warranty reimbursement services to member dealerships.
• ComplyAutocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsed Provider for dealership privacy and cybersecurity platform services.
• Crest Insurance GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsed Provider for employer group benefits to member dealerships.
• Dealertrack (CDK Global)coreTechnology or IntegrationEndorsed Provider for cloud-based Dealer Management System (DMS). CADA has partnered with 7 major DMS systems to facilitate electronic contracting transitions.
• DSMA (Dealer Services & Mergers Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsed Provider for mergers and acquisitions services.
• Federated InsurancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsed Provider for property and casualty insurance services to member dealerships.
• Incom DirectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsed Provider for credit and debit card processing and terminals.
• LB TelecomminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsed Provider for telecommunications services.
• NADA Retirement/EmpowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsed Provider for retirement benefits (401k) services to member dealerships.
• Reynolds & ReynoldscoreTechnology or IntegrationEndorsed Provider for dealer forms solutions.
• HCC Surety (Tokio Marine)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsed Provider for surety bonds and insurance products.
• UniFirstminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsed Provider for uniforms, shop supplies, floor mats, and bathroom services.
• VitucoreTechnology or IntegrationEndorsed Provider for Electronic Title Registration (ETR) services.
• Warranty Processing CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsed Provider for warranty processing services.
• Colorado Convention CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the annual Colorado Auto Show, the state's premier automotive exhibition.
• Gaylord Rockies ResortcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the annual Colorado Automotive Hall of Fame ceremony.
• Flying Horse ResortminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the Clear the Air Foundation Golf Tournament.
• 9NEWSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for CADA events and communications.
• Denver GazetteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for the Colorado Auto Show 2026.
• Motor Vehicle Dealer Board (MVDB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCADA attends monthly MVDB meetings to participate in rulemaking and regulatory decisions affecting Colorado's motor vehicle industry.
• Colorado Department of Revenue - Auto Industry DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary regulatory body for motor vehicle dealers and salespersons. CADA provides salesperson testing and dealer bonds on behalf of the state.
• Colorado Office of the Attorney GeneralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCADA works with the AG's Consumer Credit Unit to enforce the Uniform Consumer Credit Code and provide guidance to dealers during audits.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Texas Automobile Dealers Association: A state-level automobile dealers trade association operating the same playbook as CADA: legislative advocacy, regulatory engagement, dealer membership dues, compliance support, and large-scale auto shows. Directly comparable business model and member services for a larger state market.
• California New Car Dealers Association: California's franchise-dealer trade association offering advocacy, compliance education, and member services to franchised new-car dealers. Operates under a substantially more BEV- and emissions-driven regulatory regime, making it a useful regulatory-stress peer to CADA.
• Pennsylvania Automotive Association: Statewide trade association representing Pennsylvania's new-car dealers with advocacy, regulatory, and member-service functions. Comparable scope and structure to CADA in a similarly-sized industrial-state market.
• National Automobile Dealers Association: The national umbrella trade association for franchised new-car dealers in the U.S. CADA partners directly with NADA on legislative matters and participates in its annual Legislative Conference, making NADA the closest functional peer and policy counterpart.
• New York State Automobile Dealers Association: State-level dealer trade association providing advocacy, regulatory support, and member-benefit programs to franchised New York dealers. Mirrors CADA's core offerings and governance structure at a comparable dealer count.
• Florida Automobile Dealers Association: Florida's statewide dealer trade association delivering advocacy, compliance education, and member services to franchised dealers in another large and diverse state. Strong direct peer for understanding regional variability in dealer-association economics.
• Georgia Automobile Dealers Association: Georgia's franchised dealer trade association offering the same core mix of advocacy, compliance support, education, and networking. Directly analogous to CADA's value proposition in a growth-state auto market.
• Automotive Trade Association of New England (ATANE): Multi-state regional dealer trade association serving New England franchised dealers with advocacy, compliance, and member services. Comparable operating model to CADA across a smaller, geographically clustered footprint.
• Michigan Automobile Dealers Association: State trade association for Michigan's franchised auto dealers — a particularly meaningful peer given Michigan's outsized automotive industry footprint. Comparable advocacy, compliance, and member-service model to CADA.
• Illinois Automobile Dealers Association: Illinois' state-level trade association for franchised automobile dealers providing advocacy, education, and member services. Closely parallel operating model to CADA at a larger Midwestern state scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/drivecolorado
• Facebookfacebook.com/ColoradoAutomobileDealersAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colorado-automobile-dealers-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/co_autodealers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Colorado Automobile Dealers Association