autos drive america

What autos drive america does

Autos Drive America is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit trade association founded on January 1, 2020, that represents international automakers operating in the United States. It was spun off from the Association of Global Automakers' "Here For America" coalition to provide a dedicated advocacy platform for foreign-headquartered OEMs. Its twelve full members are BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo, with Panasonic Automotive and Yazaki as associate members; together these companies account for roughly half of U.S. vehicle production.

The organization functions as a policy advocacy and public affairs body rather than a product or technology company. Its core activities include lobbying on trade policy (most visibly USMCA), producing annual Economic Impact Reports covering 36+ states, issuing joint statements on EV policy with peer coalitions such as ZETA, and running targeted media campaigns including TV advertising on outlets like Fox News. It does not sell products, license technology, or operate a consumer-facing platform.

Autos Drive America is funded exclusively through membership dues, with financials not publicly disclosed. Its lean team of 1-10 employees is led by President & CEO Jennifer Safavian (appointed April 2020), supported by a small senior bench including VPs of Government Affairs and Communications and a Senior Director of Government Affairs. The organization's strategic posture is defined by coordinated industry advocacy on trade, EV, and manufacturing policy rather than by commercial product moves.

Name

autos drive america

Legal name

Autos Drive America

Website

https://autosdriveamerica.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Autos Drive America is a Washington, D.C. non-profit trade association, founded 2020, that represents 12 international automakers — including Honda, Toyota, BMW, Hyundai, and Volkswagen — and two associate members in U.S. federal and state policy advocacy on trade, EV, and manufacturing issues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: Autos Drive America is funded through membership dues paid by international automakers with US operations. As a trade association, the organization does not generate revenue from product sales or services. The 12 member companies (BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo) and associate members (Panasonic Automotive, Yazaki) contribute to fund the association's advocacy operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Autos Drive America is a not-for-profit trade association that advocates for international automakers with U.S. manufacturing operations. The organization works with policymakers at all levels of government to advance trade and investment policies supporting the U.S. auto industry. It produces economic impact reports, workforce development resources, and an interactive data center, and represents 12 member companies that collectively produce nearly half of all U.S. light vehicles.

Product overview

Autos Drive America is a trade association representing 12 international automakers (BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo) with operations in the U.S., plus associate members Panasonic Automotive and Yazaki. The organization does not offer a technology product; its offerings consist of policy advocacy services, economic impact research publications, workforce development programs, and an interactive data center. The portfolio centers on influencing trade policy, producing industry research reports, and providing data resources about the economic contributions of international automakers to the American economy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Policy Advocacy Services Advocacy for trade and investment policies that expand employment opportunities for Americans and choice for all consumers, working with policymakers at all levels of government on behalf of international automakers.
• Economic Impact Reports Annual reports detailing the economic contribution of international automakers to the U.S. economy, including investment figures, employment data, and state-by-state impact analysis.
• Wages & Benefits Survey Comprehensive survey comparing compensation, benefits, and workplace demographics between international automakers and industry counterparts.
• Vehicle Affordability Research White paper analyzing affordable vehicles in the U.S. market and the impact of trade policy changes on vehicle availability and pricing.
• Data Center Interactive data charts and downloadable reports about the auto industry, including Economic Impact Reports and Wages & Benefits Survey data by state.

Quantifiable outcome

• International automakers invest $125 billion in U.S. operations supporting 2.4 million American jobs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Joint Auto Industry Coalition (Multi-Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Eight major auto industry associations (Alliance for Automotive Innovation, American Automotive Policy Council, American International Automobile Dealers Association, Autos Drive America, MEMA, Vehicle Suppliers Association, NADA, ZETA) issued joint statement on continued USMCA discussions, demonstrating unified industry position on trade policy.
• Here For AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 January 2020Autos Drive America originated from Here For America, a coalition originally created by the Association of Global Automakers. The organization launched as a standalone organization on January 1st, 2020. Inaugural members included all 12 current member companies.
• Alliance for Automotive InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutos Drive America collaborates with the Alliance for Automotive Innovation on joint industry statements, particularly regarding USMCA discussions and trade policy. Both organizations represent major segments of the U.S. auto industry and work together on policy advocacy.
• American International Automobile Dealers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIADA represents international automobile dealers in the U.S. Autos Drive America and AIADA jointly released the 2026 Economic Impact Report and collaborate on trade policy advocacy for international automakers.
• American Automotive Policy CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAPC represents the U.S. operations of Ford, GM, and Stellantis. Autos Drive America collaborates with AAPC on joint statements regarding trade agreements including USMCA.
• MEMA, The Vehicle Suppliers AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMEMA represents vehicle suppliers. Autos Drive America works with MEMA on supply chain and trade policy issues affecting the automotive industry ecosystem.
• National Automobile Dealers AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNADA represents franchised new car dealers. The organizations collaborate on industry-wide policy advocacy including trade and manufacturing issues.
• Zero Emission Transportation AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZETA is focused on accelerating EV adoption. Autos Drive America participates in joint statements with ZETA on trade and EV policy matters.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce: The largest U.S. business federation and a leading voice on trade and tariff policy. Functions as a broad incumbent peer shaping the political environment in which Autos Drive America advocates for international automakers.
• National Association of Manufacturers (NAM): The largest U.S. manufacturing trade association, broadly representing all manufacturing sectors. A broad incumbent peer that influences the same trade-policy and tariff environment Autos Drive America operates in, but at a much larger scale and broader scope.
• Business Roundtable: Trade association of U.S. CEOs from major corporations, including many of Autos Drive America's member companies' parent organizations. A broad incumbent peer whose positions on trade and competitiveness materially shape the association's operating environment.

Direct peers

• National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA): Represents franchised new-car dealers across the U.S. and is a recurring coalition partner of Autos Drive America on trade and manufacturing policy. Operates at substantially larger scale, making it a relevant incumbent peer for comparison.
• American Automotive Policy Council (AAPC): Trade association representing the U.S. operations of Ford, GM, and Stellantis. Issues joint statements with Autos Drive America on USMCA — a peer representing the same manufacturing-and-trade-policy agenda from the Detroit-3 side.
• Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA): Major retail industry trade association where Autos Drive America's CEO Jennifer Safavian previously served as EVP of Government Affairs. A direct structural peer in trade-association operating model, government affairs staffing, and Capitol Hill advocacy.
• Alliance for Automotive Innovation: The leading U.S. auto industry trade association representing the broader vehicle and innovation ecosystem. Autos Drive America works directly with Alliance for Automotive Innovation on USMCA and trade policy — the most direct peer in scope, function, and Capitol Hill positioning.
• MEMA, The Vehicle Suppliers Association: Represents vehicle suppliers, including Autos Drive America's associate members Panasonic Automotive and Yazaki. A direct policy-advocacy peer on supply chain, trade, and manufacturing issues affecting the auto industry.
• American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA): Represents international-brand automobile dealers in the U.S. Directly co-publishes the joint Economic Impact Report with Autos Drive America — closest counterpart covering the downstream dealer side of the same international-automaker ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA): An EV-focused trade association that issues joint statements with Autos Drive America on EV and trade policy. A more narrowly scoped peer covering the electrification dimension of the same international-automaker agenda.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AutosDrvAmerica
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQxWyf4Mxv7jeXL9xMzWCEg
• Facebookfacebook.com/AutosDriveAmerica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/autosdriveamerica

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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