Canadian Automobile Dealers Association

What Canadian Automobile Dealers Association does

The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) is a private, non-profit national trade association founded in 1941, operating as a federation of 10 provincial and regional dealer associations that collectively represent over 3,200 franchised automobile and truck dealerships employing more than 140,000 people across Canada. Headquartered in Thornhill, Ontario with a secondary office in Ottawa, CADA functions as the recognized national voice of franchised auto dealers, providing federal-level advocacy on issues including zero-emission vehicle mandates, the Electric Vehicle Affordability Program (EVAP), CUSMA renegotiation, and franchise system protections, while operating a member services platform, news publications (Newsline, CADA 360 News, Écho-CADA), and the Dealer Satisfaction Index Survey.

CADA's commercial offerings center on the CADA 360 program suite, which bundles Garage Insurance administered by HUB International (35+ year partnership, 96% renewal rate), an Employee Benefits Program delivered through Canada Life (health, dental, vision, travel, specialty drugs) with drug expertise from Reformulary Group, and an Employee Assistance Program (Consult+ EAP) delivered through TELUS Health, all accessed by dealers through their provincial association membership in the federation. The underlying technology is an association management platform with a member services portal, GroupNet-based benefits administration, and online resource access; CADA does not own proprietary AI/ML capabilities but curates AI education for members.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: membership dues from provincial associations (subscription/recurring), insurance program administration via HUB International (managed services), and employee benefits program administration via Canada Life and TELUS Health (managed services). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is set at the provincial association level. The go-to-market is community- and federation-led: dealers must join their provincial association to access CADA services, and program delivery is executed through strategic channel partners rather than direct CADA staff.

Name

Canadian Automobile Dealers Association

Legal name

Canadian Automobile Dealers Association

Website

https://cada.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CADA is a Canadian national non-profit trade association, founded 1941, representing 3,200+ franchised auto and truck dealerships via a federation of 10 provincial associations, delivering federal advocacy and member services including CADA 360 insurance, benefits, and retirement programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Industry Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

akta.pro primary industry

Garage Liability & Dealers (Auto Dealers, Repair Shops) (FSAJABAF)

Keywords

• Automobile dealer association
• Franchised dealer advocacy
• Garage insurance programs
• Dealership employee benefits
• Automotive retail federation

Headquarters

HQ city

Thornhill

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: CADA is a federation of provincial and regional dealer associations. Provincial associations are members of CADA, and dealers access CADA services through their provincial membership. Revenue is derived from the collective membership structure.
2. CADA 360 Insurance Programs: Administered insurance programs including Garage Insurance through HUB International, providing coverage tailored to dealership needs with competitive pricing through a large premium base.
3. CADA 360 Employee Benefits: Employee life and health benefits program administration including drug coverage, travel insurance, and employee assistance programs through partners like Canada Life and TELUS Health.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CADA is a national trade association representing franchised automobile and truck dealers in Canada through a federation of provincial and regional dealer associations. Its commercial offerings center on the CADA 360 program suite, which delivers Garage Insurance (administered by HUB International), group employee benefits including health, dental, vision and travel coverage (administered by Canada Life), an Employee Assistance Program (delivered by TELUS Health), group retirement savings, and risk management advisory services such as hail protection. The association also provides federal-level advocacy on policy issues affecting dealers and supports member access via an online portal and the Dealer Satisfaction Index Survey.

Product overview

The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) operates as a national trade association representing over 3,200 franchised automobile and truck dealers across Canada. CADA's primary offerings include advocacy services at the federal level, the CADA 360 comprehensive employee benefits program (covering health insurance, group retirement, EAP, and pharmacy benefits via Canada Life and TELUS Health partnerships), Garage Insurance administered by HUB International, and Electric Vehicle Affordability Program support. The organization is structured as a federation of provincial and regional dealer associations with member access through provincial bodies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CADA 360: CADA's member services program offering employee benefits, insurance products (garage insurance), and group retirement savings plans for automobile dealers.

Products and services

• CADA 360 Member Services Program Comprehensive employee benefits and member services program providing health insurance, group retirement savings, EAP services, and pharmacy benefits to automotive dealership employees across Canada, administered in partnership with Canada Life and TELUS Health.
• CADA 360 Garage Insurance Flexible and fully customizable garage insurance program for automobile dealerships administered by HUB International, offering competitive pricing through an aggregated premium base, risk management tools, and 0% premium financing with monthly payments.
• CADA 360 Employee Benefits Program Employee life and health benefits program for member dealerships, providing drug coverage, travel insurance, specialty drugs management via Reformulary Group, and overall benefits administration through Canada Life.
• Consult+ Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Employee Assistance Program providing confidential support services including mental health counseling, sleep, nutrition, and financial guidance for dealership employees, delivered through TELUS Health.
• CADA 360 Retiree Plan Retirement benefits plan option within CADA 360 employee benefits program for retired dealership employees, supported at 866-656-5118.
• CADA 360 Hail Protection Risk management advisory offering for dealerships to protect vehicle inventory against hail damage, delivered through HUB International partnerships.
• Federal Advocacy Services National advocacy representation for new car and truck dealers before the federal government, industry, and public stakeholders on retail sector automobile industry issues including EV mandates, CUSMA renegotiation, franchise system protections, and dealer-manufacturer relations.
• Dealer Satisfaction Index Survey (DSI) Annual survey program for member dealers providing satisfaction metrics on dealer-manufacturer relationships, accessible to members via the CADA member portal.

Quantifiable outcome

• CADA 360 Garage Insurance achieved 96% renewal rate demonstrating member satisfaction and retention

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• British Columbia (New Car Dealers of BC)coreOthersProvincial dealer association member of CADA federation representing new car dealers in British Columbia
• Alberta (MDA Alberta)coreOthersProvincial dealer association member of CADA federation representing dealers in Alberta
• SaskatchewancoreOthersProvincial dealer association member of CADA federation representing dealers in Saskatchewan
• Manitoba (MMDA)coreOthersProvincial dealer association member of CADA federation representing dealers in Manitoba
• Ontario (MVRO)coreOthersProvincial dealer association member of CADA federation representing dealers in Ontario through Motor Vehicle Retailers of Ontario
• Quebec (CCAQ)coreOthersProvincial dealer association member of CADA federation representing dealers in Quebec (Corporation des concessionnaires d'automobiles du Québec)
• Montreal (CCAM)coreOthersRegional dealer association member of CADA federation representing dealers in Montreal
• New BrunswickcoreOthersProvincial dealer association member of CADA federation representing dealers in New Brunswick
• Nova ScotiacoreOthersProvincial dealer association member of CADA federation representing dealers in Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward IslandcoreOthersProvincial dealer association member of CADA federation representing dealers in PEI
• Newfoundland & LabradorcoreOthersProvincial dealer association member of CADA federation representing dealers in Newfoundland and Labrador
• HUB InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCADA 360 Garage Insurance is administered by HUB International, a leading insurance brokerage. HUB provides comprehensive, flexible, fully customizable garage insurance solutions for dealerships with over 35 years of program experience.
• Canada LifecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanada Life manages CADA 360's specialty drugs program and is the provider for employee benefits including health, dental, vision, and travel insurance. They provide the insurance carrier services for the CADA 360 Employee Benefits Program.
• TELUS HealthcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTELUS Health provides Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services for CADA 360 member dealerships, offering free confidential support including mental health counseling, sleep, nutrition, and financial advice.
• Reformulary GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReformulary Group provides drug expertise for the CADA 360 specialty drugs program, helping manage plan costs while ensuring employees access needed medications and supporting biosimilar transitions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Motor Vehicle Retailers of Ontario (MVRO): Ontario's provincial dealer association and CADA federation member. Most directly comparable peer given identical franchise-dealer mandate, insurance and benefits member programs, and provincial-level advocacy role within CADA's federation structure.
• National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA): The US national trade association representing franchised new car and truck dealers. Closest direct peer: same franchise-dealer advocacy and member services model in a parallel national market, including insurance, education, and federal lobbying functions.
• La Corporation des concessionnaires d'automobiles du Québec (CCAQ): Quebec's provincial francophone dealer association within the CADA federation. Directly comparable as a provincial franchise-dealer advocacy body serving new vehicle dealers with member services in a distinct regulatory and linguistic context.
• New Car Dealers Association of BC: British Columbia's provincial new car dealer association and CADA federation member. Direct peer offering comparable franchised dealer representation, member services, and provincial-level advocacy within CADA's federation model.

Others

• Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters: Canada's largest industry association for manufacturers and exporters. Comparable as a national federation-style trade association providing advocacy, member services, and policy influence for a Canadian industrial sector with overlapping EV/supply chain policy interests.
• HUB International: Large North American insurance brokerage that administers CADA 360 Garage Insurance. Comparable as a partner/distributor within CADA's member services value chain, also serving auto dealer clients directly with insurance brokerage services.
• Retail Council of Canada: National trade association representing retailers across Canada. Comparable as a peer industry-association structure advocating on retail-sector issues and providing member services to a national retail membership base.
• Canada Life: Major Canadian life and health insurer administering CADA 360 Employee Benefits. Comparable as a key channel partner providing group benefits administration to association-affiliated employer groups across Canada.
• Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB): Canada's largest association of small and medium-sized businesses, including many franchised auto dealers. Comparable as a federation-style membership organization providing advocacy, member benefits, and group services to Canadian SMBs.
• Insurance Bureau of Canada: National trade association representing Canada's private home, auto, and business insurers. Comparable as a peer industry association engaged in federal advocacy, policy research, and member services for the Canadian insurance ecosystem that CADA 360 programs operate within.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CADA360
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canadian-automobile-dealers-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Canadian Automobile Dealers Association