The mission of the Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) is to support its membership through legislative and industry representation, educational programs and communications, and community relations activities. Founded in 1907 by a group of five Detroit-area auto dealers after they hosted the very first Detroit Auto Show in the same year, today, the DADA membership includes 202 new-vehicle deal
ers who own 206 dealerships-selling 40 different vehicle lines in 72 cities throughout the greater Detroit area. The dealers are affiliated with the DADA through one or more of 13 vehicle line groups, or through individual membership. Currently, DADA members collectively employ more than 13,184 people. One of the chief goals of the association is to promote the integral role that the motor vehicle plays in the economy of our nation and the world. Many of the members of the Detroit Auto Dealers Association participate in the NAIAS, LLC, which is responsible for the production of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The DADA members support their communities through charitable involvement. The most significant charitable venture of the DADA is the annual NAIAS Charity Preview. Since 1976, the Charity Preview has raised over $87 million for southeastern Michigan children's charities - over $49 million of which was raised in the last 10 years alone. In 1998, the DADA founded the DADA Charitable Foundation Fund, one of the benefiting charities of the NAIAS Charity Preview, to support charitable organizations and activities that assist children and youth.
