For more than 40 years, the American International Automobile Dealers Association has worked in Washington, D.C., to represent the interests of international nameplate auto dealers.

Sometimes that means challenging legislation that will impact our bottom line. Sometimes it means bringing dealers to town to meet with their legislators and advocate for their businesses. And sometimes it means looking beyond Capitol Hill and communicating directly to the public about how our industry works.

In recent years, as unions gained influence in Washington and our federal government became a majority owner of one of our competitors, the anti-import rhetoric in D.C. has heated up. Economy-damaging “Buy American” language has crept into legislation, and an anti-trade, “anti-import” message is being promulgated by our own elected leaders.

As an international nameplate dealer, tax payer and employer of nearly 400 Americans, this is frustrating on many levels. Not the least of which is that most of the “so-called import vehicles” I sell to my customers in Pennsylvania are built right here in the U.S.A.

For that reason, I am very excited today (this week) to introduce a new website that celebrates the substantial investments international nameplate manufacturers make in the United States. The data, images and videos it contains will help consumers decide for themselves what makes a car American. WhatIsAnAmericanCar.com spreads a positive message by focusing on the international brand vehicles designed, built and sold right here in America.

For a long time, international nameplate dealers have been content to let our vehicles speak for themselves. After all, by any measure our cars and trucks are the most reliable, the most fuel-efficient and the best sellers in America.

Additionally, they are some of the “most American” cars sold in America. The Toyota Camry and Honda Accord came in first and second in Cars.com’s 2010 American Made Index which evaluates how “American” a car is based on its sales, where the car’s parts come from, and whether the car is assembled in the U.S.

That said, we can no longer be content to let our cars do the talking. We must use the facts to protect our stores. And the facts are that the old labels of “import” and “domestic” no longer apply in today’s global marketplace.

Check WhatIsAnAmericanCar.com out. Share it with you employees and customers. As dealers, it’s time for us to speak up for our cars.

Jim Smail is the AIADA chairman.