Dear Friends,

Navratri of 2023 marked a milestone with retail sales soaring by 18% year-over-year, surpassing the figures of Navratri 2017. Except for tractors, which saw an 8% decline, all categories exhibited commendable growth. Two-wheelers, three-wheelers, commercial vehicles and passenger vehicles experienced increases of 22%, 43%, 9%, and 7%, respectively. But, here’s a caution. While Navratri retails were at all-time high, it was not as per our expectation as PV segment didn’t see much spark. Due to this, inventory level in PV is at all time high levels of 63-66 days which demands urgent attention from OEMs.

Allow me to now walk you through the latest updates and impactful endeavours spearheaded by the your Federation, re?ecting our unwavering commitment to advancing the interests of the auto retail community.

In recent collaborations, led by Ms Garima Misra, our FADA Delhi State Chairperson and Mr Vinkesh Gulati, Chairman of FADA Academy & Research, alongside our esteemed Delhi Regional Directors - Mr Mukesh Sharma, Mr Ajay Agarwal & Mr Sunil Sethi, we engaged with Mr Ashish Kundra, Principal Secretary cum Commissioner, Delhi Transport. The constructive dialogue and agreement to address concerns such as multiple sales outlet Trade Certificates, Bank Guarantee requirements, CAB registration, EV cab permits and post-registration modification rights signify a positive trajectory.

Similarly impactful engagements were led by State Chairperson, Mr Govind P Mewar, along with Regional Directors - Mr Krishna Bhalotia & Mr Umesh Sahu - in discussions with Mr Kripa Nand Jha, Secretary & Transport Commissioner, Jharkhand. The positive outcome of these discussions assures the implementation of new CMV rules in the state, re?ecting our advocacy e?orts.

Further, our representations in Madhya Pradesh led by Chairperson FADA Madhya Pradesh, Mr Ashish Pande, yielded positive outcomes addressing concerns of dealers in the state, including the issuance of Trade Certificates and advocating for EV subsidies.

FADA Gujarat Chapter members led by Mr Hitender Nanavati, Chairperson FADA Gujarat & Governing Council Member, Mr Pranav Shah during the month also had very transparent discussion with COT and with Dy Director Transport, Gujarat relating to vehicle registration concerns. The Gujarat Chapter's proactive engagements resulted in lifting restrictions on automatic generation of registration marks for company-owned vehicles, marking a significant win for our members.

FADA Rajasthan Chapter Members along with Secretary FADA Mr Sai Giridhar & Chairperson FADA Rajasthan, Mr Sharvik Shah approached the State Finance - GST Commissioner advocating for input tax credit eligibility and proposing pivotal amendments concerning vehicle registration and the creation of a used car dashboard on e- Vahan.

With regards to non-implementation of New Central Vehicle Rules, 1989 in Tamil Nadu & Puducherry, FADA has moved forward following the expiration of the legal notice period served to the Transport Departments of Tamil Nadu & Puducherry. Currently, FADA is actively engaged in preparing the WRIT application to be filed in the High Court of Tamil Nadu.

Our collaboration with esteemed associations like Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and other retail bodies stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to industry-wide reforms, particularly the early adoption of the Auto Dealers Protection Act (ADPA), showcasing our proactive stance.

In this pursuit, I had the privilege of meeting Mr Praveen Khandelwal, the National Secretary General of CAIT. Recognizing the pivotal role of such an act, Mr Khandelwal championed our cause during his meeting with Mr Rohit Kumar Singh, Secretary at the Ministry of Consumer A?airs, Government of India in New Delhi. The strong advocacy for FADA's ADPA was well received, with Mr Singh assuring the convening of a meeting involving stakeholders and DPIIT to e?ectively address concerns.

Building on this momentum, CAIT hosted a crucial meeting in Delhi that brought together leaders from over 25 industries and trade associations. I had the privilege of being accompanied by Mr. Vinkesh Gulati, Chairman - FADA Academy & Research, Mr. Amar Parwani, FADA Governing Council Member and National Vice President of CAIT and Mr. Saharsh Damani, CEO - FADA. Together, we strategized an initiative now known as the 'Supply Chain Policy.' This policy aims to create a fair and equitable trading environment between manufacturers/OEMs and us as distributors,dealers and stockists. Re?ecting elements of the Franchisee Protection Act from various global regions, this policy is set to foster positive changes in the dynamics of our industry. It marks a significant step toward ensuring a level playing field, with CAIT leading the way. I am especially grateful to Mr. Amar Parwani for his pivotal role in arranging these meetings with CAIT and extend my heartfelt thanks to him.

To expand our global reach for better connect with International Dealer Associations, we've initiated the digital dissemination of the FADA Journal to global auto retail associations, fostering an informed network for our collective growth.

Representing FADA, I also recently participated in a panel discussion at the Zee Auto Awards which provided an opportunity to address road safety concerns, reaffirming FADA’s dedication to industry-wide improvement initiatives.

During the month, our focus has also been on diligently gathering GST concerns within the auto retail industry through a comprehensive Google survey. This initiative aims to holistically represent all such issues to the GST Council, encompassing matters at both the Central and State levels. Our aim is to ensure that every aspect concerning the auto retail industry is thoroughly addressed and advocated for within the GST framework.

Looking ahead, FADA is gearing up to host Vyapar Events across states from December onwards, continuing our dedicated e?orts to represent our members' interests and drive positive changes within the automotive sector.

Before I conclude, I have an important announcement to make. FADA Secretariat is poised for growth with the recent appointment of Mr Vikas Raj as the Dean of FADA Academy. This appointment signifies a crucial stride in fortifying the Federation's academic and research pursuits. I am confident that Mr Raj's esteemed expertise and visionary leadership will profoundly augment the capabilities and steer the direction of the Academy wing within FADA.

Thank you for entrusting us. Your unwavering support fuels our commitment to address industry challenges for the collective betterment of all stakeholders.

Thanking you,

 Manish Raj Singhania President, FADA