Dear Friends,

As my two-year term as President of FADA comes to an end, I want to express my deep gratitude to my colleagues in the Managing Committee Mr. C S Vigneshwar – Vice President, Mr. Sai Giridhar – Secretary and Mr. Amar Jatin Sheth – Treasurer without whose support we could not have progressed where we are today. I would also like to thank out Executive Committee, and Governing Council. Your unwavering support and dedication have been instrumental in advancing FADA’s initiatives and programs, making all our achievements possible.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all our State Chairpersons and Regional Directors for their commitment to strengthening FADA and expanding its influence across the country. Their coordinated work with State Transport departments and key institutions vital to the auto retail community has significantly improved the ease of doing business while fostering transparency and trust among various stakeholders.

I must also take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to Mr. Vinkesh Gulati, Chairman of FADA Academy & Research, for his exemplary commitment to developing programs for Dealer Principals, GenX members, and dealership employees. These initiatives are designed to enhance dealership operations by focusing on employee satisfaction, customer centricity and adaptation to technological advancements and evolving government policies.

I am pleased to share that the first batch of the Advanced Certificate Program in Automotive Operations & Future Technologies, in collaboration with IIT Delhi, has been a resounding success. This 7-day intensive program, held at the prestigious IIT Delhi campus, aimed to revolutionize the automotive industry by equipping Dealer Principals and leadership teams with cutting-edge knowledge and skills. The goal is to foster innovation, improve operational efficiency, and drive sustainable growth in the sector.

Additionally, FADA Academy, in partnership with the Pravin Dalal School of Entrepreneurship and Family Business Management at NMIMS, curated the 2nd batch of Executive Leadership Program for FADA GenX Members. During this program, FADA Vice President Mr. C.S. Vigneshwar, FADA Academy & Research Chairman Mr. Vinkesh Gulati, and FADA GenX Vice Chairman Mr. Rishabh Sanghi held an insightful discussion with Ms. Renuka Kirpalani, Executive Editor - Video Content at Autocar India and Editor at Autocar Show Times Network, and Mr. Jay Kale, Executive Vice President at Elara Capital.

Friends, FADA was recently invited to a crucial meeting with the Ministry of Heavy Industries to discuss the effective implementation of the Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS). The meeting, attended by Secretary Mr. Kamran Rizvi and Additional Secretary Dr. Hanif Qureshi, included FADA’s Regional Directors from Delhi in the EV 2-W sector, Mr. Udit Bagga and Mr. Abhinav Dhingra, as well as Mr. Saharsh Damani, CEO of FADA.

During the meeting, our delegation addressed several ground-level issues related to the EMPS-2024 portal, including challenges with OTP, login issues, and concerns regarding RC, HSRP, inventory and subsidies. FADA CEO also took the opportunity to extend an invitation to Addl. Secretary Dr. Hanif Qureshi for the Auto Retail Conclave'24 and proposed that FADA be included in various ministry committees.

Additionally, the FADA Secretariat, led by Secretary Mr. Sai Giridhar, CEO Mr. Saharsh Damani and Mrs. Indira Menon, met with senior officials from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. They discussed recommendations for streamlining the affixation of High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) for vehicles registered before April 1, 2019, and provided a status report on the implementation of new CMV Rules, 1989, for the registration of new fully built passenger and commercial vehicles across states and UTs in India.

Furthermore, Mr. Saharsh Damani attended the Post Union Budget 2024-25 discussion organized by CII, where Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was the Chief Guest.

FADA organized its 314th Governing Council meeting via Zoom, to support the Governing Council members in enhancing their participation in the ongoing DSS’24 for OEMs and to guide them through the State Chairpersons Election Process,

FADA also reached out to the State Bank of India, urging them to reconsider their revised dealer payout structure outlined in e-Circular No. NBG/PBU/AL-AUTOLOAN/2/2024-25. We expressed concerns about its negative impact on dealership revenue and the unethical practice of direct payments to staff. We requested a fair adjustment to the payout structure, proper authorization for payments and a revised commission structure for loans directly sourced at dealership premises. We are still awaiting a response from SBI.

On the high inventory front, FADA sent an email to SIAM President, asking SIAM to urge its member OEMs to address the high levels of PV inventory. Although SIAM has committed to discussing this issue at its upcoming executive committee meeting, they advised the dealer community to address inventory concerns directly with their respective OEMs, as inventory management is typically managed between dealers and their principals. Post this, FADA has once again sent an email to SIAM President as Inventory at the end of July continues to touch new highs.

To express our gratitude and seek guidance for future programs, FADA organized a Past Presidents' meeting at Taj Exotica, Goa. I’m pleased to share that 13 Past Presidents from across the country, along with their spouses, attended the meeting. The event was successfully coordinated with the help of Treasurer Mr. Amar Jatin Sheth and FADA CEO Mr. Saharsh Damani.

Before I update you on the activities carried out by FADA and its State Chapters this month, I’d like to remind you to register for both the Diamond Jubilee i.e. 60th Annual General Meeting of the Federation and the 6th Auto Retail Conclave, scheduled for September 11, 2024, at Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi. We are honoured to have three Union Cabinet Ministers—Mr. Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Hon’ble Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways; Mr. H.D. Kumaraswamy, Hon’ble Union Minister of Heavy Industries; and Mr. Bhupendra Yadav, Hon’ble Union Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change—confirmed as Chief Guests and Guests of Honour. The program is shaping up well, and we will share more details as the event approaches. Apart from them, Chief Economic Advisor, GoI, Mr. V Ananta Nageswaran and ACMA President Ms Shradha Suri Marwah will also be our Guests of Honour.

I am pleased to provide a comprehensive update on our recent activities and achievements across FADA's various chapters. Our collective efforts are making significant progress in advancing the automotive retail industry and promoting sustainable practices.

FADA Chhattisgarh team, led by Chairperson Mr. Anil Agarwal, recently had a fruitful discussion with Transport Secretary Shri S. Prakash. I’m delighted to report that their efforts resulted in the removal of Trade Fees from the Road Tax amount and an extension of the Trade Certificate validity to five years. Additionally, the team is advocating for extension of 100% Road Tax rebate on electric vehicles till
the upcoming festive season and seeking a waiver of STA approvals for new vehicle model registrations that do not align with the new CMV Rules, 1989.

Moreover, FADA Chhattisgarh WIF Director Ms. Rashmi Kale organized a dealership visit in Raipur at Mr. Subhash Dhuppad's dealership, M/s Chhattisgarh Hero, for WIF members in the state. The event was attended by Chairperson Mr. Anil Agarwal and Regional Director Mr. Vivek Garg, who is also the President of RADA. Six WIF members participated in this insightful study tour.

In Delhi, Chairperson Ms. Garima Misra organized an informal meeting with chapter members to promote better business practices and strengthen camaraderie. She also conducted the monthly review meeting with COT Delhi, Mr. Prashant Goyal, addressing several vehicle registration issues.

In Goa, Chairperson Mr. Prashant Joshi held a Town Hall Meeting for the dealer community to engage with the central FADA team, voice their concerns, and learn about the Federation’s initiatives aimed at improving the dealer environment. I attended the meeting alongside Treasurer Mr. Amar Jatin Sheth, FADA Academy & Research Chairman Mr. Vinkesh Gulati, and FADA CEO Mr. Saharsh Damani. Following the Town Hall, Mr. Joshi discussed state-specific vehicle registration issues with Mr. P. Abhishek, Director of Transport, Government of Goa.

In Gujarat, under the leadership of FADA Governing Council Member Mr. Pranav Shah, our chapter members had the honour of meeting the newly appointed Transport Commissioner, Mr. Anupam Anand (IAS). The meeting served as an opportunity to introduce Mr. Anand to FADA's objectives and initiatives and to invite him to FADA Gujarat’s Dealers Meet scheduled for August 17, 2024.

Chairperson of FADA Jammu, Mr. Sanjay Agarwal, submitted representations to Mr. Rajinder Singh Tara (JKAS), Transport Commissioner of the Government of J&K, and also met with him along with chapter members to address the challenges faced by the dealer community in the state.

In Karnataka, Chairperson Mr. Dharma Teja organized a video conference with Mr. Sai Giridhar, Secretary of FADA, CMVR experts Mr. Hans Kumar and Advocate Mr. Akshay Bhardwaj. The discussion focused on concerns regarding the registration of new fully built vehicles in the state and explored the best course of action to address these issues.

Meanwhile, in Madhya Pradesh, Chairperson Mr. Ashish Pandey and FADA MP Chapter members met with several key officials, including Hon'ble Transport Minister Mr. Uday Pratap Singh, Transport Commissioner Mr. D.K. Gupta, ACS Transport Mr. S.N. Misra, RTO Bhopal Mr. Jitendra Sharma, and Mr. Manish Singh, Principal Secretary of Finance. They sought resolutions for critical issues affecting the dealer community in the state.

In Maharashtra, State Chairperson Mr. Sachin Mahajan and chapter members engaged in a productive discussion with Transport Commissioner Mr. Vivek Bhimanwar, IAS, and Joint Transport Commissioner Mr. J.B. Patil. The focus was on enabling online registration for new fully built commercial vehicles and expediting the implementation of the 5-year TC validity and online allotment of fancy numbers.

Under the leadership of Chairperson Mr. Sharvik Shah collaborated with the Rajasthan Transport Department on a Tree Saplings Plantation Drive aimed at fostering a greener future. Together, they planted 15,000 trees at RTO offices and facilities across the state, with many dealerships contributing to this initiative.

In Telangana, Chairperson Mr. Suresh Reddy and chapter members met with Hon'ble Chief Minister Sri Anumula Revanth Reddy and Transport Commissioner Dr K. Ilambarithi, IAS. They presented a request for a road tax waiver on electric vehicles and advocated for Telangana’s inclusion in the e-VAHAN portal.

These activities and achievements underscore our commitment to advancing the automotive retail industry and promoting sustainability. I extend my heartfelt thanks to all members for their dedication and hard work. Together, we are making a significant impact and driving the future of our industry forward.

As I conclude my term, I am filled with immense pride in what we have achieved together and optimism for what lies ahead. FADA has grown stronger and our influence has expanded. But there is always more to be done. I am confident that with the continued support of the new leadership and our dedicated members, FADA will continue to thrive and drive positive change in the auto retail industry.

In the end, I wish to thank our team members of the FADA Secretariat for their vigour and consistent work for keeping the objective of the association in view and working relentlessly for taking our ideologies forward. A special thanks to Saharsh – our CEO & Indira ji for working hard to achieve our goals. Mahendra, Ankush, Nikhil, Yatin, Mukul, Nikita, Madhu & Anshul deserve a special mention for their continuous hard work.

Thank you once again for your unwavering support and for allowing me the privilege to serve as your President. Together, we have made significant strides, and I look forward to witnessing the continued success of FADA in the years to come.

As I assume the role of Chairman – Academy & Research from Mr. Vinkesh Gulati, I am committed to building upon the excellent foundation that has been established and contributing my best efforts to continue this successful journey.

As the Federation prepares for a new chapter in leadership, I wish you a joyful and prosperous Festive Season!"

Warm regards,

Manish Raj Singhania
President, FADA