Vyapar Gujarat: Viksit Gujarat Ki Raftaar Concluded on a High Note!

Dear Friends,

The Indian automobile retail industry continues to show resilience, though we remain mindful of the evolving market dynamics. While we are seeing a steady transition toward sustainable mobility—particularly in the EV and Hybrid segments—dealership viability remains our top priority. As we navigate shifting consumer sentiments, FADA is committed to ensuring that the voice of the dealer is heard at the highest levels of policymaking. Our focus remains on "Financial Prudence" and "Digital Transformation" to ensure our members are prepared for the high-tech retail environment of tomorrow.

The Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, introduced under the amended Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, were designed to make the vehicle registration process seamless and faceless at the dealer level. However, despite the Hon’ble Madras High Court’s order dated 24th October 2025, directing the State Transport Department to implement the new CMV Rules, 1989, full compliance has not yet been achieved.

In view of this, FADA has filed a Contempt Petition, which shall soon be admitted by the Court. We hope that a favourable judgment will not only expedite the implementation of the new CMV Rules, 1989 in Tamil Nadu but also serve as a precedent for other states where full implementation of the rules is still pending.

Reiterating to activities, FADA Gujarat successfully concluded the 21st edition of FADA Vyapar in Ahmedabad, marking the second time the state has hosted the event since its inaugural edition in 2018. The conclave brought together over 250 automobile dealers and industry stakeholders to deliberate on the future of mobility, retail transformation, and the broader economic growth of Gujarat.

Held under the theme “Viksit Gujarat Ki Raftaar,” the conclave resonated with Gujarat’s long-term development vision, Viksit Gujarat @2047, underscoring the automobile retail sector’s pivotal role in employment generation, MSME growth, and the transition towards sustainable mobility.

The event was inaugurated by Shri Rajesh R. Gandhi, Senior Vice President, Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and Managing Director at Vadilal Industries Limited, with Shri Govind Sinha, Deputy General Manager, State Bank of India, Ahmedabad, as the Guest of Honour. Joining me on the dais for the inaugural session were Mr. Amar Sheth, Secretary, FADA; Mr. Pranav Shah, Chairperson, FADA Gujarat; and Mr. Saharsh Damani, CEO, FADA.

Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Harsh Sanghavi, who was unable to be present in person, was gracious in sharing a message that was read out by Mr. Saharsh Damani during the inaugural session. In his message, he lauded FADA’s contributions since 1964 and acknowledged the automobile dealer network as a key driver of financial inclusion, skill development, and grassroots economic activity. He further noted that the conclave’s theme aptly reflects the sector’s role in translating policy vision into tangible outcomes, while aligning with Gujarat’s thrust on sustainability and green mobility.

Addressing the gathering, I highlighted Gujarat’s position as a “natural mobility hub,” driven by its strong entrepreneurial ethos and the rapid adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles. I also took the opportunity to apprise the dealer fraternity that the Hon’ble Supreme Court has admitted FADA’s writ petition on the Compensation Cess issue and issued notice to the Government. Emphasising the need for future-ready dealerships, I underlined the importance of continuous upskilling and drew attention to the initiatives being undertaken through the FADA Academy.

Some of the key sessions during the event included Financial Prudence to Enhance Dealership Viability, Vehicle Registration, Demystifying GST: Key GST Concerns of Automobile Dealers, and Management Lessons from Operation Sindoor.

The event recognition Mr Surendra Sharma, Managing Director, Sharma Cars Pvt Ltd., one of the oldest dealers in Gujarat & a key contributor to FADA Gujarat’s growth story.

I will take this opportunity to thank the other distinguished speakers at Vyapar Gujarat: Maj. Gen. (Dr.) G. D. Bakshi, SM, VSM (Retd.); Ms Gurveen Bedi, Senior Vice President, Spinny; Mr Bhavin Joshi, Retail Business Head – West, L&T Finance Ltd; Mr Hemal N. Thakkar, Senior Practice Leader & Director, Crisil Intelligence; Mr Jiten Gandhi, Regional Director, FADA Gujarat & Partner, Labh Autolink; Mr Nitesh Jain, Managing Partner, N. J. Jain & Associates; Mr Naveen Vashisht, Business Head Wheels, AU Small Finance Bank Limited; Mr Pramod Kumar Singh, DDG and SIO, NIC Gujarat; Mr Sudhir Goel, National Business Head, FTA HSRP Solutions Pvt Ltd; and Ms Vinita Yadav, I/c Deputy Director, Commissionerate of Transport, Government of Gujarat.

My sincere gratitude to our partners without whose support we would have been able to put up such a gala event. My special thanks to our silver Partners: AU Small Finance Bank Limited; FTA HSRP Solutions Pvt Ltd; L &T Finance Ltd; and Spinny.

Special thanks to FADA Gujarat Chairperson Mr. Pranav Shah and the Regional Directors of FADA Gujarat for their dedicated efforts in organizing the event within a short timeframe. I would also like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to my colleagues on the Managing Committee and the FADA Secretariat, ably led by Mr. Saharsh Damani.

FADA continues to actively engage with its members across regions through knowledge-sharing, advocacy, and skill-development initiatives.

The FADA South Zone office, led by Mr. Bharat Chordia, FADA Governing Council Member, is committed to promoting workplace safety and compliance. It will be conducting soon an Industrial Safety session in Tamil, highlighting the importance of safety standards in dealership operations. In addition, the office organised an exclusive offline and online session on the New Labour Code for FADA members. The session, conducted by Mr. Vasu Rao, Business Head – Payroll and Compliance Service, Ma Foi Strategic Consultants Pvt. Ltd. (A CIEL HR Group Company), provided members with practical guidance and insights on implementing labour reforms effectively.

FADA continues to advance learning and leadership through the FADA Academy, which, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management Udaipur, is set to launch an Executive Certificate Program on AI & Business Excellence for the Automotive Retail Industry. The three-day residential program is specifically designed for dealer principals and senior leadership teams to understand how artificial intelligence and data-driven decision-making can be applied to enhance sales performance, customer experience, workshop efficiency, and overall dealership profitability.

FADA Academy hosted an exclusive webinar for dealer principals and HR leaders on Strategic HR Leadership & People Management for Business Impact, led by Mr. Pankaj Dubey, Founder of DSPIN Consultancy Pvt Ltd. and Former CEO & Managing Director of Polaris Inc., along with Mr. Alok Nigam, Co-Founder of Evuene Technologies and Former Group Chief of Human Resources, Bhartiya Group.

Further, the FADA Delhi Chapter, under Chairperson Shailender Luthra and regional directors, along with Mr. Saharsh Damani, CEO, FADA, had a meaningful and forward-looking interaction with the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Rekha Gupta, at the Delhi Secretariat. The discussion focused on the contours of the forthcoming Delhi EV Policy and key auto-retail trade issues, with a shared objective of balancing environmental imperatives with economic sustainability.

FADA Jammu, under Chairperson Mr. Sanjay Agarwal, submitted a representation to Mr. S. D. Vaidya (IAS), Principal Secretary Finance, Govt. of Jammu & Kashmir, highlighting the disproportionately high Value Added Tax (VAT) on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in the Union Territory as compared to neighbouring states and union territories.

Friends, our strength lies in our unity. Whether it is fighting for legal clarity or upskilling our workforce through the FADA Academy, our goal is a future-ready automotive ecosystem. With the continued support of our members and partners, we will drive growth, innovation, and a stronger, future-ready automotive ecosystem.

May the festival of harvest usher in progress, prosperity and new journey’s ahead. Festival greetings on the occasion of Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Bihu, Pongal and Uttarayan.

With Best Wishes,

C S Vigneshwar
President - FADA