THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
UDAIPUR,
FEBRUARY 6, 2026
In a decisive move
towards preparing India’s automobile retail sector for the future, FADA
Academy, the learning and development arm of the Federation of Automobile
Dealers Associations (FADA), in collaboration with the Indian Institute of
Management Udaipur (IIM Udaipur), has successfully concluded the Executive
Programme on AI & Business Excellence for Automotive Retail.
The three-day residential
programme, conducted from January 22 to 24, 2026, at the IIM Udaipur campus,
brought together Dealer Principals and senior leadership from automobile
dealerships across the country. Participants represented a wide spectrum of
leading automotive brands, including Maruti Suzuki, Kia, Mahindra, Honda, Tata
Motors, Bajaj Auto, MG Motor, SML Isuzu, Hyundai, Volkswagen, BMW and Hero
MotoCorp, with delegates drawn from 12 states nationwide.
Exclusively designed
for automotive retail leadership, the programme focused on the practical
adoption of Artificial Intelligence and data-driven decision-making to improve
sales performance, elevate customer experience, enhance workshop efficiency and
strengthen overall dealership profitability. The curriculum featured a blend of
faculty-led interactive sessions, real-world case studies, simulations and
peer-to-peer learning, ensuring strong alignment with the realities of
dealership operations on the ground.
Addressing the
participants, Manish Raj Singhania, Chairman – Academy & Research, said the
automotive retail industry is currently at a critical inflection point.
“Artificial Intelligence is no longer a futuristic idea; it is a present-day
leadership imperative. Through our collaboration with IIM Udaipur, FADA Academy
has taken a meaningful step towards equipping Dealer Principals and leadership
teams with the mindset and tools required to lead with confidence in an
AI-driven future,” he said.
Prof. Debanjan Mitra,
Programme Director at IIM Udaipur, underlined the institute’s commitment to
delivering executive education of global standards tailored to industry needs.
He noted that the programme offered data- and AI-driven insights across key business
functions within the Indian automotive retail context, spanning daily
operations as well as long-term strategic planning. Highlighting the importance
of fostering an AI-driven organisational culture, he said the institute was
encouraged by the positive response from participants and expressed confidence
that both current and future cohorts would derive significant value in
developing customised, AI-enabled business strategies.
The collaboration
underscored a shared vision between FADA Academy and IIM Udaipur to bridge
academic excellence with real-world industry challenges. Hosting the programme
at the IIM Udaipur campus provided participants with exposure to a premier
academic environment that promoted strategic thinking, innovation and
collaborative learning.
With a limited and
carefully curated cohort, the programme reaffirmed FADA Academy’s commitment to
nurturing future-ready automotive retail leaders and strengthening the industry
ecosystem through structured, high-impact executive education initiatives.
