FADA concludes 6th Auto Retail Conclave

The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) held the 6th edition of its Auto Retail Conclave, themed "Elevating Customer & Revitalising Dealer Synergy," with over 500 participants from across India. 

The conclave was inaugurated by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, who addressed the attendees virtually. Other prominent guests included Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change; H.D. Kumaraswamy, Union Minister of Heavy Industries; Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran, Chief Economic Adviser, Ministry of Finance; Karti V. Nagpal, President of Rosmerta Group; and Shradha Suri Marwah, President of ACMA and CMD of Subros.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari congratulated FADA on its 60th anniversary and praised the organization’s contributions to the Indian economy, highlighting its role in regional development, social inclusion, and job creation through over 30,000 dealerships nationwide. He also acknowledged FADA’s efforts in promoting green mobility and road safety initiatives.

H.D. Kumaraswamy, Minister of Heavy Industries, emphasized the importance of FADA's efforts in promoting cleaner energy and supporting the growth of electric vehicles, aligning with government policies such as the FAME II scheme. He also underlined the significance of the data from FADA's vehicle registration reports for policymakers and industry leaders.

Bhupender Yadav, Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, encouraged the automotive retail sector to prioritize sustainability, particularly through the adoption of zero-emission vehicles. He commended FADA’s initiative of planting one tree for every vehicle sold as a step towards environmental stewardship.

C.S. Vigneshwar, President of FADA, outlined the association's future priorities, including the Retail Protection Act and the Model Dealer Agreement, aimed at ensuring the long-term stability of dealerships across India. He emphasized the importance of collaboration among key industry stakeholders for sustainable growth.

During the conclave, FADA launched its "FADA Corporate Video" and the "FADA Digest 2024," an annual journal offering a comprehensive analysis of the Indian automobile industry. The journal provides insights into trends, technologies, and policies shaping the sector’s development and highlights FADA’s initiatives to enhance dealer operations and customer experiences.

A presentation by Shylesh Narayanan, Country Head of Frost & Sullivan, introduced the Customer Experience Index (CEI) Study conducted in collaboration with FADA. The study assessed customer experience across sales, after-sales service, and product quality in the passenger vehicle segment, involving over 8,500 customers from various regions.

The conclave featured multiple panel discussions, including a CxO Fireside Chat on the CEI Study 2024, a session on government policy collaboration, and a discussion on the Dealer Satisfaction Study (DSS'24). Industry leaders shared their insights on customer satisfaction, government policies, and strategies to enhance dealer relationships and market opportunities.

FADA also signed an MoU with DigiELV and Meta Materials Circular Markets (MMCM) to promote sustainable practices in the automotive industry, focusing on responsible end-of-life vehicle management through digital solutions.

The conclave concluded with the Dealer Satisfaction Study 2024 Awards ceremony, recognizing excellence in dealership performance and customer experience.