Tracing its roots to the dawning of the auto industry, the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA) was founded in 1917 to represent and promote the retail automobile business in the Washington Metropolitan area for the good of the franchised new car and truck dealers it represents and the consumers they serve.

Known originally as the Washington Automotive Trade Association (WATA), and later as the Automotive Trade Association National Capital Area (ATANCA), WANADA represents more than 225 franchised new vehicle dealers and 75 kindred-line members (related vendors) in the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland.