Dear Members,

As we navigate through 2026, the Indian automotive industry continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience amidst a complex global and domestic environment. Strong retail demand, supported by favourable economic policies, rising rural incomes, and improved financing access, has propelled vehicle registrations to historic highs early this year. At the same time, evolving regulatory norms, rising input costs, and geopolitical uncertainties require us to remain agile and forward-looking.

At FADA, our commitment to enhancing dealership capabilities and industry standards remains unwavering. Through a series of targeted initiatives, we are equipping dealer principals, leadership teams, and dealership communities with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in today’s dynamic automotive landscape.

To enhance dealer efficiencies and address manpower challenges, FADA Secretary Mr Amar Sheth and CEO Mr Saharsh Damani met with Mr Sudhir Malhotra, Former Vice President - Sales and Marketing at Renault India, at the FADA Secretariat. The discussions focused on strategies to boost operational efficiencies and structure effective manpower-related training programs.

Further strengthening operational effectiveness, Mr Sheth, Mr Damani, and Regional Director FADA Delhi, Mr Manu Khanna, engaged with the Sparecare team at FADA Secretariat on managing dead inventory. Pilot projects are planned in Delhi with select Royal Enfield dealers, and in the West Zone with Volkswagen and Ashok Leyland Dealers.

FADA was privileged to participate in the Reserve Bank of India’s pre-policy consultation on macroeconomic outlook held on 13th March 2026 in Mumbai. Representing the association, CEO Mr. Saharsh Damani shared FADA’s perspective on the current auto retail environment with the Monetary Policy Committee. The discussion highlighted strong retail momentum, especially in rural markets, while also flagging risks from crude volatility, heatwave conditions and monsoon uncertainty.

International collaboration continues to broaden our industry’s horizons. CEO Mr Saharsh Damani met with Mr Vincent Lin, Director of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) India, at FADA Secretariat to explore trade opportunities and foster engagement between Taiwanese trade bodies and Indian auto dealers.

For the first time, FADA marked International Women’s Day by launching a special video series featuring women leaders from across India’s auto retail industry. The series highlights their journeys, showcasing leadership, resilience, and the evolving role of women in shaping the future of automobile retail.

Recognizing the importance of legal awareness, FADA Academy, under Chairman Mr Manish Raj Singhania, conducted high-impact online sessions on Legal Writing & Drafting for Non-Legal Professionals, strengthening critical capabilities across dealerships. Additionally, a session on First Time Manager – From Individual Contributor to Confident Leader was organized to prepare emerging leaders for future challenges.

FADA Academy also announced an exclusive online masterclass titled “From Exchange to Enterprise: Structuring a Profitable Used Car Vertical”, led by Mr Anand Gharote, Consultant in Used Vehicle Value Chain Management, to help leadership teams capitalize on the growing used car market.

Looking ahead, FADA will soon launch the Dealership Satisfaction Study 2026 (DSS’26) for Finance & Insurance Companies. The study aims to:

• Understand dealer expectations from F&I providers
• Evaluate how effectively these expectations are being met
• Identify key improvement areas for F&I companies

Once the survey goes live, I request all members to actively participate - your opinion matters.

We will also soon open nominations for the FADA’s Dealership Excellence Awards 2026. Watch for announcements regarding award categories and the number of awards to be presented to dealerships across the country for excellence in dealership management initiatives.

Winners of both DSS’26 and the FADA Dealership Excellence Awards will be recognized at the Finance & Insurance Summit 2026, scheduled for the first week of July in Mumbai.

State chapters have also been supporting FADA’s initiatives at the centre by driving localized initiatives:

• FADA Delhi, under Chairperson Mr Shailender Luthra, will host the Vyapar Delhi: Badalti Dilli on 17 April 2026 in New Delhi. Preparations are in full swing, and more details on speakers and dignitaries will follow.

• FADA Rajasthan, under Chairperson Mr Sharvik Shah, will host the Vyapar Rajasthan: Giving Wheels to Viksit Rajasthan on 11/12th April 2026 in Jaipur. Preparations for the same has also begun and more details will be shared via SM platforms as well as state WhatsApp communication.

• FADA Kerala, under Chairperson Mr Manoj Kurup and Past President Mr John K Paul, in collaboration with KADA, conducted a New Labour Code training program tailored to dealership needs.

• FADA Madhya Pradesh, led by Chairperson Mr Ashish Pandey and Regional Director Mr Dinesh Maski, conducted townhall meetings in Betul and Narmadapuram districts to educate dealers on FADA’s initiatives, understand ground-level concerns, and onboard new members under the FADA umbrella.

• FADA Tamil Nadu, under Chairperson Mr Rajavel S, submitted a representation to the Transport Commissioner of Puducherry advocating for automated vehicle registration processes leveraging Aadhaar OTP verification — a step expected to streamline registrations and save time for vehicle owners.

• FADA Telangana, under Chairperson Mr Suresh Reddy and the State Transport Department, held training sessions to help dealerships adapt to the integrated E-Vahan portal, ensuring seamless vehicle registration and management.

• FADA West Bengal, under Chairperson Mr Rohit Chowdhary, organised a compliance session focusing on the New Manpower Reform Codes 2026, featuring expert insights from Advocate Prasanta Chowdhury.

The ongoing conflict in West Asia is a timely reminder of how closely India’s growth trajectory is linked to global energy and trade stability. Elevated crude prices, rupee volatility, higher freight and insurance costs, and emerging pressure on energy and component supply chains can create near-term headwinds for the automotive sector even when underlying demand remains healthy. For auto retail, this reinforces the need to stay vigilant on inventory, costs, financing conditions and consumer sentiment, particularly in price-sensitive segments. At the same time, India’s diversified energy sourcing and strong domestic fundamentals provide an important cushion against prolonged external shocks.

Looking ahead, while India’s auto sector benefits from rising consumer demand and policy support, dealers must remain vigilant to global supply chain risks, regulatory evolution, and currency fluctuations influenced by geopolitical dynamics. By investing in skill development, operational efficiency, and strategic partnerships, we can collectively transform these challenges into opportunities for growth.

I thank all members for their continued support and active engagement. Together, let us lead the way to a stronger, more resilient automotive retail ecosystem that drives sustainable progress for India.

Warm regards,

C S Vigneshwar
President - FADA