THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026

The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) on Tuesday called for stronger collaboration between automobile dealers, manufacturers and the government to build a sustainable and future-ready retail ecosystem as India's mobility landscape undergoes rapid transformation.

Addressing the 8th Auto Retail Conclave 2026 here, FADA President Sai Giridhar said the next decade would bring profound changes to automobile retail, driven by evolving technology, consumer expectations, business models and mobility solutions.

Held under the theme "BHARAT: Inclusive Mobility, Inspired Growth", the conclave brought together policymakers, automobile manufacturers, dealers and ecosystem partners to deliberate on the future of India's automotive retail sector.

"The next decade will profoundly transform automobile retail. Technology, consumer expectations, business models and mobility solutions are all evolving at an unprecedented pace. Yet one thing remains unchanged: the dealer continues to be the bridge between the automobile industry and the consumer," Giridhar said.

He stressed that dealer sustainability, fair partnerships with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), employee development and ease of doing business must remain central to the industry's growth.

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H D Kumaraswamy, who was the chief guest at the conclave, said India's mobility growth was no longer restricted to a handful of cities or vehicle segments.

"From two-wheelers to tractors, from conventional fuels to emerging technologies, Bharat is firmly in the driver's seat of growth," Kumaraswamy said.

He said thousands of dealerships and retail outlets across the country were generating livelihoods, fostering entrepreneurship and taking economic opportunities closer to communities.

"As we move towards Viksit Bharat 2047, manufacturing excellence, inclusive growth and a relentless focus on the customer must guide every decision we take," the minister said.

During the inaugural session, FADA unveiled the FADA Digest 2026, commemorative editions of Kaleidoscope and the FADA Employee ID Programme, described as a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at providing professional identity and a structured career pathway to employees working across automobile retail.

The conclave also featured findings from FADA's 6th Dealer Satisfaction Study (DSS'26) and a high-level industry discussion titled "DSS'26: Beyond Satisfaction — Reimagining the Dealer-OEM Partnership."

The study highlighted the need for transparent communication, sustainable dealership economics, collaborative planning and stronger long-term relationships between dealers and OEMs.

FADA also flagged emerging opportunities in used-vehicle retail, electric mobility, digitisation, artificial intelligence-enabled customer engagement and workforce development.

The apex association representing automobile dealers across India said it would continue to focus on research, industry advocacy, training programmes and stronger state-level engagement to enhance dealer capabilities.

The conclave comes at a time when India's automotive retail ecosystem is evolving beyond conventional vehicle sales, with changing consumer behaviour, electrification, digital technologies and new mobility solutions reshaping the dealer's role in the value chain.

FADA reiterated its vision of an automotive retail sector that is economically sustainable, technologically progressive and customer-centric, while remaining aligned with India's broader mobility and development aspirations.