Australian Automotive Dealer Association

09/06/2026

The automotive market is changing quickly - and dealers need to stay close to the issues shaping the year ahead.

At AADA 2026, Your AADA at Work will give delegates a focused Main Stage update from AADA CEO James Voortman on advocacy priorities, industry developments, Dealer Academy growth and the key challenges facing Australia’s franchised new car dealers.

It is a concise 25-minute session designed to help dealers get up to date and better understand the forces shaping the market.

Read more: https://aadaconvention.com.au/your-aada-at-work-2026/

Join us at the 2026 AADA Convention & Expo, taking place 29–30 July at ICC Sydney.

Register now: https://aadaconvention.com.au/register-for-aada-2026/

26/05/2026

New for AADA 2026: the AADA Business Series.

This new program addition will give dealers practical insight into the legal, regulatory and commercial issues affecting dealership businesses.

The series includes two focused sessions:

➡️Mandatory Merger Notification Regime
Presented by AADA in partnership with HWL Ebsworth

➡️How the ACL is Failing New Car Dealers and What We Can Do About It
Presented by AADA in partnership with Macpherson Kelley Lawyers

Early-Bird pricing ends this Friday, so now is the time to review the full program and secure your place.

👉 Read more: https://aadaconvention.com.au/aadaconvention-com-au/

18/05/2026

The full AADA 2026 program is out - and Early-Bird pricing ends Friday 29 May.

Join us at ICC Sydney on 29–30 July for two days of Main Stage sessions, workshops, Expo Live Stage presentations, networking events and industry connection.

Check out the full program, pick your must-see sessions and register before Early-Bird pricing closes.

View the full program 👉

See you at AADA 2026.

That means there is still time to save $100 per delegate before prices rise. Join us at ICC Sydney on 29–30 July for two days of Main Stage sessions, workshops, Expo Live Stage presentations, networking events and industry connection.

11/05/2026

Used EV sales may have attracted much of the recent attention, but Australia’s used hybrid and plug-in hybrid markets are also seeing strong momentum as buyers prioritise lower running costs.

Used hybrid sales reached 28,395 units nationally between January and April 2026, while supply tightened significantly from 53.8 days in January to 42.3 days in April. Used PHEV sales also strengthened, with newer models recording particularly strong demand across the market.

Read full insights:https://www.aada.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026.05.12-MR-AADA-Used-Hybrid-and-PHEV-Market.pdf

10/05/2026

The AADA Expo floor is about to get even more useful.

Introducing the AADA Pentana Solutions Live Stage Series at AADA 2026.

Across Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 July, the Live Stage will feature short, practical presentations on the topics shaping dealership performance - including finance, customer experience, logistics, AI, cyber and security, fixed operations, insurance, communications and more.

It is a great way to pick up useful ideas between sessions, meet exhibitors and make the most of your time in the Expo.

Join us at the 2026 AADA Convention & Expo, taking place 29–30 July at ICC Sydney.

Early-bird pricing is available for a limited time.

Find out more and Register:

DingGo Crash Intelligence – Turning Damage into DollarsShaun Janks & John Mahkoul - DingGo Crash ManagementWednesday 29 July

05/05/2026

The AADA 2026 Workshop Series is now live.

Across two days at ICC Sydney, delegates can choose from practical, dealer-focused sessions covering AI, cybersecurity, fixed operations, marketing ROI, customer experience, used EVs, data, dealership profitability and more.

These sessions are designed to give dealers clear ideas, useful takeaways and practical thinking they can bring back into the business.

Explore the Workshop Series and start planning your AADA 2026 experience.

Early-Bird pricing is ending soon.

👉 View the Workshop Series: https://aadaconvention.com.au/2026-workshop-series/
🎟️ Register now: https://aadaconvention.com.au/register-for-aada-2026/

29/04/2026

🚗 How do you improve marketing ROI without overcomplicating the business?

At AADA 2026, the AADA youX Feature Hybrid Session will explore exactly that.

Lead With Strategy. Leverage With AI. The 3 Marketing Fundamentals Every Dealer Needs - and 5 AI Solutions Leading the Way

Moderated by David Kain and Chelsea Stillwell, this feature session will look at how dealers can sharpen marketing performance, improve ROI and use AI in practical, commercially relevant ways.

📅 Thursday 30 July
🕒 3:00pm
📍 Main Stage | ICC Sydney

🎟️ Early-Bird pricing is available for a limited time

👉 Learn more and register

Discover the three marketing fundamentals every dealer needs and where AI can genuinely improve performance at AADA 2026.

29/04/2026

Sunday 26 April - AADA & CADA International Fellowship Dinner - Beijing

On the final night of our AADA Study Tour to Auto China 2026, delegates gathered for an unforgettable evening of fellowship, culture and connection at the AADA & CADA International Fellowship Dinner at Charmful Land in Beijing.

Coming together with our Canadian counterparts from CADA, who were also in Beijing for their Study Tour to Auto China 2026, the evening was a true celebration of international friendship across the automotive industry.

Held in a beautifully repurposed venue in Beijing’s old town, rich with traditional Chinese charm, the night began with a spectacular Lion Dance performance. AADA Deputy CEO Brian Savage and CADA Industry Relations Director Bruce Rosen were invited to take part in the traditional eye-dotting ceremony, known in Cantonese as deem jing 點睛, symbolising the awakening of the lions before their performance.

Guests then moved inside to enjoy a magnificent banquet of traditional Cantonese cuisine, matched with exceptional wine and even better company.

We then heard remarks from AADA Study Tour Director and tour host Patrick Tessier, Brian Savage and Bruce Rosen, and were especially honoured to hear from His Excellency Mr Scott Dewar, Australian Ambassador to China, along with Tracy Diehl, Consul General of Canada in Shanghai.

AADA was also proud to present Mr Dewar, a passionate Richmond supporter, with a framed Richmond guernsey signed by the 2026 on-field team. In a moment greatly enjoyed by the Australian contingent, the guernsey was brought to the stage by a cheeky-faced Jordy Tessier, proudly wearing his beloved North Melbourne guernsey - a well-timed nod to North’s recent 75-point win over the Tigers in Round Six.

The evening concluded with a remarkable Kung Fu performance by Shaolin monks, which served as both a brilliant cultural finale and a gentle reminder that most of us should probably stretch more.

We left with a deeper appreciation of the beauty and richness of Chinese culture, and with many new international friendships forged.

It was truly one for the books.

A final and sincere thank you to all of our wonderful delegates on this Study Tour. This group made the tour what it was: thoughtful, engaged, generous and great company from start to finish. It was an absolute pleasure hosting you.

26/04/2026

Yesterday was the main event of our AADA Study Tour - Press Day access to Auto China 2026.
And delegates were blown away.
The sheer scale of the show was something to behold, but it was the pace of innovation that really landed. Everywhere we turned, there was another new model, another emerging technology, another brand pushing hard into the future of mobility.
Throughout the day, our delegation also had the privilege of attending special OEM presentations arranged specifically for our Study Tour.
At Jetour, we heard about the brand’s growing ambitions, including upcoming models and its strong interest in building deeper relationships with the Australian market.
At Hongqi, delegates gained insight into one of China’s most significant automotive brands - long associated with government and diplomatic vehicles - and its plans for Australia, including right-hand-drive electric models expected in the coming years.
At Xiaomi, the scale of ambition was unmistakable. From the SU7, which has quickly become one of China’s standout EV success stories, to the YU7 and the extraordinary SU7 Ultra, the presentation showcased a company thinking far beyond the car itself - connecting performance, safety, software, design and the smart home ecosystem into one broader vision.
We also saw the Gran Turismo Concept Car, described beautifully as “a sculpture of the wind” - a fitting phrase for a day full of future-facing design, bold engineering and big ideas.
By the end of it, we were exhausted in the best possible way.
One of our delegates summed it up perfectly:
“Auto Show 1: Me 0.”
A remarkable day, and exactly the kind of experience these Study Tours are designed to deliver.

24/04/2026

This morning, delegates boarded our tour buses and enjoyed an uncharacteristically smooth run through Beijing traffic as we made our way to BAIC’s Beijing facilities.
There, we were given a deep and insightful look into the 68-year history of this Chinese automotive giant, along with a sneak peek at upcoming vehicles from both BAIC and its premium new energy brand, ARCFOX.
Delegates had the opportunity to view the ARCFOX Wendao V9 EREV people mover and the ARCFOX Alpha S5 EREV coupe-style sedan, offering a valuable glimpse into the technology, design and ambition driving BAIC’s next chapter.
With BAIC already expanding into right-hand-drive markets such as New Zealand, it may well be a brand to watch on Australian shores in the coming years.
With thanks to our friends at BAIC for hosting us and sharing such an insightful morning.