FADA’s flagship event, the 13th Auto Summit is here

I am pleased to share with you the recent developments and activities that are making a significant contribution to the growth and success of FADA.

First and foremost, I would like to highlight two key events scheduled for the first month of 2025, which will set the tone for the entire year: Dealers Day and the 13th Auto Summit.

On January 17, 2025, we will be organizing Dealers Day at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. This day will also feature the inauguration of the Global Expo most likely by the hands of Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji. Please note that entry will be restricted to individuals with a badge featuring their photo. All participants who register for the Auto Summit by January 9, 2025, 6:00 PM, will receive a badge granting them access to the Auto Expo. No badge requests will be accepted after this date. FADA will also have a Lounge at the Expo, located in Hall No. 1, for the benefit of dealers attending the event.

The preparations for the 13th Auto Summit, which will be held on January 18, 2025, at Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi, are in full swing. This year’s theme, “Safe, Efficient & Sustainable: Shaping Tomorrow’s Mobility,” is of paramount importance, as it addresses the critical challenges and opportunities the automotive industry faces in transitioning to a more sustainable and efficient future. The theme highlights FADA’s pivotal role in shaping the future of India’s automobile retail sector and ensuring it evolves to meet the demands of safety, sustainability, and efficiency.

Registrations for the Auto Summit are underway, and we anticipate over 1,800 participants, making it one of the most significant events for the industry.

In line with our efforts to strengthen relationships with key stakeholders, Mr Saharsh Damani, CEO FADA, and Mr Vinkesh Gulati, Past President FADA, recently met with the Hon’ble Union Minister – Mr HD Kumaraswamy, Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India, and Dr Hanif Qureshi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India, to extend invitations for FADA’s flagship event. I am delighted to share that the Hon’ble Minister has graciously agreed to be our Chief Guest, and Dr Qureshi has confirmed his participation in the Panel Discussion on “Sustainable Mobility: Green Practices for a Cleaner Tomorrow.”

Additionally, Mr Mahmood Ahmad, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, has also agreed to be a distinguished panellist on the session “Safety First: Building a Safer Future for Indian Roads and Vehicles.”

We are eagerly looking forward to these events and the exciting opportunities they will bring to our industry.

Furthermore, Mr Sai Giridhar, Vice President FADA and Mr Saharsh Damani, CEO FADA met with the Chief General Manager- Retail & Wholesale, State Bank of India and presented them their DSS Trophies at their Mumbai HQ.

Mr Manish Raj Singhania, Chairman FADA Academy & Research, along with Ms Garima Misra, Executive Committee Member - FADA, Mr Ajay Agarwal, Chairperson, FADA Delhi & Mr Saharsh Damani, CEO - FADA, had the pleasure of meeting Mr Subrata Mondal, MD & CEO, IFFCO Tokio. During the meeting, they extended an invitation to him for the Auto Summit 2025.

Mr Venkat Goli, Chairperson- FADA Andhra Pradesh was invited to grace the Business Expo organised by the Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry Federation as one of the distinguished speakers.

Throughout the month, several State Chairpersons organized meetings with chapter members to update them on FADA’s initiatives, promote the membership drive, discuss state-specific issues, and plan events for 2025. These meetings were organised by Mr Rohit Chowdhury, Chairperson FADA West Bengal; Mr Dharma Teja, Chairperson FADA Karnataka; Mr Ajay Agarwal, Chairperson FADA Delhi; and Mr Ashish Pande, Chairperson FADA Madhya Pradesh.

Additionally, WIF Chhattisgarh under the leadership of WIF State Director, Ms Tawanpreet Bhasin organised WIF state meeting. Wif Chairperson, Ms Rashmi Kale graced the meeting. Nine WIF members from the state attended the meeting, where they brainstormed the action plan for 2025 and discussed participation in the Auto Summit 2025.

FADA State Chapters continued to engage with the State Transport Departments to address issues and promote ease of doing business. Mr Sharvik Shah, Chairperson FADA Rajasthan represented FADA to Ms Suchi Tyagi, Transport Secretary, Department of Road Safety & Transport, Government of Rajasthan. He raised concerns regarding unnecessary inspections of dealers with valid Trade Certificate and requested that RTO/DTO offices be instructed not to conduct such inspections unless dealer irregularities were reported. Furthermore, he suggested that dealers should be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard before any actions were taken, supporting the vision of ease of doing business championed by both the Central and State Governments.

In Punjab, Mr Rajiv Chopra, Chairperson FADA Punjab along with Mr Rishi Dada, former Chairperson, FADA Punjab, and Regional Director Mr Sidharth Garg, represented FADA to the Transport Commissioner of Punjab regarding the blocking of automobile dealers’ valid Trade Certificates from accessing the motor vehicle registration portal (E-VAHAN) by RTOs/DTOs, without providing an opportunity to address the concerns.

In Delhi, FADA, under the leadership of Mr Ajay Agarwal, continued its relentless efforts with the Delhi Government to extend the validity of the EV policy, which had expired. We are pleased to report that these efforts were successful, and the EV policy has been extended until March 2025.

In an effort to address key concerns of dealers, Mr Manish Raj Singhania, Chairman, FADA Academy & Research sent a message to FADA dealer members seeking their interest in establishing Training Centres in collaboration with FADA and ASDC.

Ms Rashmi Kale, Chairperson WiF organised the 2nd Wif Core Committee Meeting to gather insights from WIF State Directors on the status of the WIF membership drive in their respective states. The meeting also focused on identifying key interests of WIF members regarding topics for upcoming webinars and sessions aimed at enhancing their knowledge and promoting efficiency in dealership management.

Additionally, Ms. Rashmi Kale, also organized a webinar during the month, exclusively for WiF members on the SODS app, developed by Ms Tawanpreet Kaur, WIF Director of Chhattisgarh. The app aims to resolve issues in dealerships related to sales and HR management.

FADA West Bengal, under the leadership of Mr Rohit Chowdhury, organized a highly successful session on NAPS & NATS in collaboration with ASDC at the Calcutta Punjab Club. The session provided valuable insights on skill manpower recruitment, cost-saving strategies, and featured real-life success stories from local dealers.

FADA Madhya Pradesh, under the leadership of Mr Ashish Pande, organized a workshop with SSR Global Skills Park for the upskilling of automotive professionals. The workshop, themed "From Conversion to Acceleration," focused on enhancing the skills and capabilities of the auto dealer community.

These initiatives are designed to enhance operational efficiency and cultivate a skilled workforce equipped to meet the industry's evolving needs.

As we look forward to the Auto Summit 2025, we remain optimistic about the future of our industry. Let us continue to collaborate, share knowledge, and stay focused on driving innovation and growth in the automotive sector.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication.

Season’s Greetings and a Happy New Year in advance!

CS Vigneshwar
President - FADA