The North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA) and the Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) have announced they will merge to become one entity serving the United States and Canada, from January 2027.

The merger brings together the strengths, expertise, and resources of both industry associations with the shared goal of providing “greater value to members and a stronger voice for equipment dealers”, under the banner of the Associated Equipment Dealers (AED).

Chairman of the NAEDA board of directors and president of H&R Agri-Power, Steve Hunt, says the merger helps position the body to more strongly advocate for the future of the industry.

“NAEDA and AED each bring strengths to the table,” Hunt says. “Together, we can preserve what our members value most while expanding what we can accomplish on their behalf.”

In a statement, both the NAEDA and AED say advocacy and industry affairs will be a central focus for the combined organisation, with the merger providing greater reach to represent dealers with policymakers, manufacturers, and other industry stakeholders throughout North America.

The combined organisation will also build on the education, workforce development, dealer-manufacturer relations, research, events and member services currently provided by both associations.

Marshall Anderson, chairman of the AED board of directors and executive vice president of RDO Equipment, says: “Our responsibility is to look beyond where our associations are today and consider what our members will need five, 10 and 20 years from now”.

“This merger gives us the opportunity to build that future together.”