Texas Automobile Dealers Association

What Texas Automobile Dealers Association does

TADA is a Texas-based non-profit trade association founded in 1916, representing over 1,400 franchised automobile dealerships across 290 communities in the state. Its functional role is to serve as the unified lobbying and regulatory voice for franchised new-car and truck dealers at the Texas Legislature, U.S. Congress, and relevant regulatory agencies, while providing member services including legislative advocacy (via the AutoPAC Political Action Committee), a leadership development pipeline (TADA Leadership Network / Texas Dealers Academy), a quarterly industry publication (Dealers' Choice magazine), community outreach (Dealers Care), and consumer resources (dealer search, Lemon Law information, Consumer Bill of Rights). The association's stated member footprint encompasses over 100,000 auto dealer employees, approximately 250,000 direct and indirect jobs, and over $6 billion in direct payroll across member dealerships.

The business model is a recurring annual membership-subscription structure: franchised dealers pay dues for advocacy representation, training, and member benefits, supplemented by AutoPAC political contributions (annual fundraising cycle beginning each September) and Lone Star Sponsor revenue from vendor partners such as American Fidelity, ComplyAuto, Environ Energy, Ethos Group, Sentry, and ACV Auctions. GTM is sales-led via direct outreach and dealer networks, anchored by annual conferences, board meetings, Texas Dealers Academy programs, and an online dealer locator funneling consumers to member dealerships. There is no proprietary technology platform; the core digital surface is a dealer search web portal and standard association/event web infrastructure. Headcount is 51-100 employees operating from a single headquarters at 1108 Lavaca Street, Suite 800, Austin, Texas.

Name

Texas Automobile Dealers Association

Legal name

Texas Automobile Dealers Association

Website

https://tada.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1916

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Texas Automobile Dealers Association (TADA) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1916, representing over 1,400 franchised automobile dealerships across 290 Texas communities through legislative advocacy, training, and member services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

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: TADA generates revenue through annual membership dues paid by franchised automobile dealers. The association provides exclusive member benefits including access to critical resources, training programs, advocacy representation, and the Texas Dealers Academy. Membership is limited to franchised new car and/or truck dealers in Texas.
2. AutoPAC Political Contributions: AutoPAC is TADA's Political Action Committee that collects non-corporate contributions from individual dealers to support candidates and officeholders in state legislative races and statewide offices. AutoPAC fundraising occurs annually beginning in September.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TADA is a statewide trade association that represents over 1,400 franchised automobile dealerships in 290 Texas communities. Its core offerings include legislative and regulatory advocacy at the Texas Legislature, Congress, and regulatory agencies; the Texas Dealers Academy / TADA Leadership Network training program; the Dealers' Choice quarterly magazine; the AutoPAC political action committee; and the Dealers Care community outreach program, all funded primarily through annual membership dues paid by franchised dealers.

Product overview

Texas Automobile Dealers Association (TADA) is a trade association offering a portfolio of member services for franchised automobile dealers. The core offerings include the Dealer Search tool enabling consumer discovery of member dealerships, the TADA Leadership Network for next-generation dealer training, Dealers' Choice Magazine as a quarterly industry publication, and a comprehensive Advocacy Program including legislative representation and AutoPAC political engagement. Community outreach is supported through the Dealers Care initiative. This is a single-entity association model with distinct service lines rather than a modular software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dealers' Choice Magazine: TADA's quarterly magazine providing up-to-date information on business and industry issues for franchised dealers and affiliated industry partners.
• Texas Dealers Academy
• TADA Leadership Network
• AutoPAC

Products and services

• Dealer Search Online search tool enabling consumers to locate franchised automobile dealerships throughout Texas by dealer name, city, or franchise code. Maintained for TADA's member dealers to drive consumer referrals.
• TADA Leadership Network (Texas Dealers Academy) Structured leadership development program for dealer family members and key managers, preparing candidates for Dealer Principal roles through educational and operational training, plus networking opportunities across Texas.
• Dealers' Choice Magazine TADA's quarterly magazine providing up-to-date information on business and industry issues, legal matters, HR concerns, customer service, and association news for franchised dealers and industry partners.
• TADA Advocacy Program Represents and advocates for franchised automobile dealers at the Texas Legislature, Congress, and regulatory agencies, including legislative session recaps, policy papers, and the AutoPAC political action committee for political contributions in state legislative and statewide office races.
• Dealers Care Community Program Community outreach initiative highlighting charitable contributions and volunteer efforts of Texas auto dealers, including donations to food banks, educational institutions, animal shelters, and disaster relief efforts.
• AutoPAC TADA's Political Action Committee enabling member dealers to participate in the political process through collective contributions in state legislative races and statewide office races. Annual fundraising begins in September.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,400 franchised automobile dealerships represented across 290 Texas communities
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• ACV AuctionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerACV Auctions is listed as a Lone Star Sponsor of TADA, providing franchise dealer services and appearing in the sponsor section of the TADA website.
• American FidelityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmerican Fidelity is listed as a Lone Star Sponsor and endorsed partner of TADA, providing insurance and financial services to member dealers.
• Environ EnergyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnviron Energy appears as a Lone Star Sponsor, providing energy-related services to TADA member dealers.
• ComplyAutominorGTM or Marketing PartnerComplyAuto is listed as a TADA endorsed partner in 2024, providing compliance services for automotive dealers.
• Ethos GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEthos Group is listed as a Lone Star Sponsor, providing services to TADA member dealerships.
• SentryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSentry appears as a Lone Star Sponsor, providing insurance and risk management solutions to dealers.
• NADA Charitable TrustminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe NADA Charitable Trust contributed to Don A. Buckalew Elementary School alongside TADA Foundation and HADA Foundation.
• HADA FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe HADA Foundation partnered with NADA Charitable Trust and TADA Foundation to support Don A. Buckalew Elementary School.
• Toyota CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerToyota Corporation provided $30,000 in matching grants for the Linda McNatt Animal Care and Adoption Center, obtained through the efforts of Jim McNatt at McNatt Family Dealers.
• Houston Automobile Dealers AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHouston Automobile Dealers Association President Wyatt Wainwright participated alongside TADA staff in presenting contributions to Buckalew Elementary School.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Florida Automobile Dealers Association: Florida's state-level automobile dealers association providing advocacy, dealer education, training, and member support to franchised new-car and truck dealers. Runs the same franchise dealer representation model as TADA, but within Florida.
• South Carolina Automobile Dealers Association: South Carolina state-level automobile dealer trade association providing advocacy, training, and member support to franchised dealers. Operates the same franchise dealer representation model as TADA, but within South Carolina.
• California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA): California's state-level automobile dealer trade association representing franchised new-car and truck dealers. Mirrors TADA in mission, structure, advocacy focus, and member-service portfolio, but serves California instead of Texas.
• Illinois Automobile Dealers Association (IADA): Illinois state-level automobile dealer trade association representing franchised new-car and truck dealers through advocacy, education, and member services. Directly parallels TADA's operating model within Illinois.
• Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association (GNYADA): New York's statewide dealer trade association serving franchised dealers with advocacy, training, consumer-facing tools, and member services. Mirrors TADA's structure and product mix while serving the New York market.
• Pennsylvania Automotive Association: Pennsylvania state-level trade association for franchised automobile dealers, providing advocacy, education, and member services. Directly comparable to TADA as a state-level franchise dealer association focused on Pennsylvania.
• Virginia Automobile Dealers Association: Virginia state-level automobile dealers association representing franchised new-car and truck dealers. Parallels TADA in advocacy focus, training programs, and community engagement, but serves the Virginia market.

Others

• Houston Automobile Dealers Association (HADA): Houston-metro automobile dealer association providing regional advocacy, training, and community engagement programs. Functions as a complementary regional sub-association within the Texas dealer ecosystem, collaborating with TADA on broader state initiatives.
• North Texas Automobile Dealers Association (NTXAD): Regional Texas dealer trade association serving approximately 200 franchised new-car dealers in 16 North Texas counties with education, training, and community engagement offerings. Operates as a regional sub-association within the broader Texas dealer ecosystem alongside TADA.

Broad incumbents

• National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA): National-level trade association for franchised new car and truck dealers across the U.S. Comparable to TADA in advocating for franchised dealer interests through legislative representation, training, and member services, though it operates at a federal/national scope rather than state-level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/asicommunity
• Facebookfacebook.com/txautodealers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/texas-automobile-dealers-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/advsol
• Xx.com/autodealerstx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Texas Automobile Dealers Association