Headquartered in the District of Columbia, the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA) is the new car dealer group in the Metropolitan Washington Region, one of the most important new car markets in the US. WANADA's mission is to promote the automobile business and the success of its automobile dealer members and advocate on its behalf before the industry, in the media and in the public policy process at all levels. It does this with large scale annual events, such as The Washington Auto Show and to a lesser extent with a myriad member training and education programs. In recent years The Washington Auto Show has become a premier event of its kind on the global auto industry circuit establishing its position as "The Public Policy Show".

WANADA is comprised of 250 corporate members, which, besides new car dealerships, consists of kindred line or contractor businesses that service auto dealerships. The WANADA organization consists of a non profit association, WANADA Business Services Corp, The Auto Dealer Education Institute (ADEI), The WANADA Community Support Foundation, WANADA Insurance Services, and The Washington Auto Show.

WANADA operates with an 18 member board of directors, several leadership boards, ten committees, and 20 staff. WANADA regularly interacts with National Auto Dealer Association, Maryland Auto Dealer Association, and Virginia Auto Dealer Association. It is a member of The Automotive Trade Associations network (ATAE) which is comprised of dealer associations across North America. WANADA also interacts with The Greater Washington Board of Trade and a number of Chambers of Commerce around the Washington metropolitan region.

WANADA was founded through its predecessor organization known as Washington Automotive Trade Association in the District of Columbia in 1917. In 1954, WANADA became Automotive Trade Association National Capital Area (ATANCA), changing its name to WANADA in 1996. Philanthropically, WANADA trains and develops dealership personnel under the auspices of its ADEI. Through The Community Support Foundation, WANADA has been a major supporter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Greater Washington Boys and Girls Clubs. It has also been a long time institutional sponsor of The Washington Regional Alcohol Program for sober driving and The Greater Washington (Capitol Hill) Soap Box Derby.