The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) conducted its 7th Auto Retail Conclave in New Delhi, drawing over 500 participants from across India's automobile retail community. The event centered on the theme "Self-Sustaining Success: Transforming Auto Retail for Naya Bharat."
Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the conclave alongside Union Minister for Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy, who participated virtually. Industry leaders including SIAM President Shailesh Chandra, Rosmerta Group President Kartick V. Nagpal, and FADA President C.S. Vigneshwar were present on the dais.
Minister Gadkari highlighted India's position as the world's third-largest automobile market, projecting the country's rise to number one within five years. He emphasized the transition toward clean and sustainable mobility, noting that electric vehicles and traditional fuel vehicles would achieve cost and efficiency parity in coming years.
"India has huge market potential not just for domestic adoption but also for exports," Gadkari stated. "We are focusing on securing critical minerals, scaling semiconductor production, and enabling startups engaged in advanced research."
Minister Kumaraswamy addressed the sector's economic significance, noting that automobile retail employs nearly 5 million people across 15,000 dealerships and 20,000 outlets. He highlighted the sector's contribution of generating 18 downstream jobs for every role at an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) plant.
FADA President Vigneshwar emphasized the sector's substantial economic impact, citing investments of ₹20 lakh crore and annual tax contributions of ₹3 lakh crore. He noted that auto retail in India is three times larger than all organized retail combined.
The conclave featured the 5th Dealer Satisfaction Study (DSS'25) presentation, showcasing OEM-dealer engagement metrics. A power panel discussion moderated by Autocar India's Hormazd Sorabjee included representatives from major manufacturers including Hero MotoCorp, Volvo Car India, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, Hyundai Motor India, and Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India.
Key sessions addressed FADA's various verticals, including two-wheeler retail initiatives, the FADA Academy's strategic outlook, youth-driven innovation through FADA GenX, and women's representation in the sector through Women in FADA (WIF).
The event concluded with the announcement of an OEM-Dealer Agreement aimed at institutionalizing fairness and collaboration in manufacturer-dealer relationships. FADA also launched its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative for 2025-26, focusing on providing immediate assistance to road accident victims.
Founded in 1964, FADA represents India's automobile retail industry, encompassing sales, service, and spare parts for two-wheelers, three-wheelers, passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and tractors across 26,500 dealerships nationwide.