Dear Friends,

I'm excited to share the news of our inaugural Solo Dealer Satisfaction Survey (DSS) for Finance & Insurance is now live. Building upon the success of last year's survey, which was combined with the Dealer Satisfaction Study on OEMs, this dedicated initiative aims to delve deeper into the interactions between Dealers and our F&I partners. Your participation is crucial in providing invaluable insights that will fuel substantial enhancements across our industry. Join us in shaping the future by taking part in this vital survey.

Additionally, nominations are now open for the prestigious FADA Dealership Excellence Awards 2024. This is the 5th edition of the same. These awards recognize outstanding practices and service excellence, setting the standard for our industry. With 72 awards across 24 categories, this year promises to be our most exciting yet!

The results of both the FADA Dealer Satisfaction Survey 2024 for F&I and the FADA Dealership Excellence Awards 2024 will be unveiled at the 3rd Finance & Insurance Summit to be held on June 14th, 2024, at Hotel Sahara Star, Mumbai. It's thus an event you won't want to miss!

To ensure the integrity and comprehensiveness of these initiatives, we continue to partner with PremonAsia, a renowned Singapore based industry expert as our knowledge partner. Rest assured, your individual responses will remain confidential and secure as ever!

I thus urge you to participate wholeheartedly in these crucial endeavours. Your feedback and involvement are instrumental in shaping the future of our industry.

I would also like to highlight that the preparations are well underway for the 3rd edition of the Finance & Insurance Summit. Stay tuned for updates on sessions tailored to address key industry concerns in these segments.

Registration forms for all events are available on the FADA website. Do take this opportunity to register your participation and encourage your colleagues to do the same. We've also secured competitive accommodation rates with Sahara Star for your convenience.

During the month, I had the privilege of participating as a panellist in a crucial discussion on "Mainstreaming Persons with Disability in the Automotive Industry" organised by ASDC. It was a profound opportunity to contribute to an essential dialogue aimed at fostering inclusivity and accessibility within our industry. Together with fellow panellists, we explored strategies to empower individuals with disabilities and enhance their participation in various facets of the automotive sector. This experience reinforced my commitment to advocating for diversity and equality within our industry, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an impactful conversation.

Further, I would like to inform all that our Vice President, Mr. C S Vigneshwar, has been appointed as the Area Commander - Home Guards for Coimbatore city, a prestigious honour that reflects his dedication and leadership qualities.

Our recent 312th GC Meeting at Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi, was a resounding success, with an impressive 75% attendance. We did a special session with Google India for our Governing Council members in terms of enhancing their digital journey at Dealerships. One of the key decisions made during this meeting was to hold the Federation's 60th AGM and Auto Retail Conclave in Delhi on September 11, 2024, marking it as an event to look forward to.

In regional news, FADA Delhi Chapter, led by Chairperson Ms. Garima Misra, recently held a productive meeting with Shri Prashant Goyal, IAS, who has assumed the role of Commissioner of Transport Delhi. During her meeting, Ms. Misra briefed Mr. Goyal about the memorandum of understanding (MOU) established between the Department and the FADA chapter. This MOU facilitates monthly review meetings between the Commissioner of Transport, Delhi, and FADA Delhi Chapter members, fostering a platform for constructive dialogue. These discussions are pivotal in addressing industry concerns and collaborating on initiatives aimed at enhancing road safety. Indeed, regular interactions between FADA State Chapter members and state departments are instrumental in nurturing strong relationships and promoting mutual understanding.

FADA Chhattisgarh's WIF Director, Ms. Rashmi Kale, orchestrated a fruitful gathering for Chhattisgarh WIF members, featuring insightful visits to dealerships and workshops at GK JCB. Witnessing Mr. Punit Parwani, dealer principal, extend a warm welcome to the WIF members was truly heartening. These interactions serve as catalysts for the exchange of best practices and the fortification of bonds within our dealer community. I had the privilege of attending the event to offer my encouragement to our esteemed WIF members.

To gauge how FY25 is looking, we held a meeting with Hyundai COO, Mr. Tarun Garg. The discussion was majorly around PV segment and how Dealers and OEMs can work in a more cohesive manner in this new financial year.

Furthermore, FADA's initiatives have garnered significant recognition, with our auto retail figures and research methodology being well-received since November 2018. After RBI, Chief Economic Advisor and his office closely tracks our Auto Retail Figures as this helps him in framing policies for the entire nation. Notably, our efforts towards dealership profitability and various schemes for the benefit of the dealer fraternity have been acknowledged by stakeholders across the automobile ecosystem, evident from the appreciative mails and letters we've received.

These expressions of gratitude are a testament to our collective hard work and I extend my heartfelt thanks to each of you for your unwavering support towards FADA's initiatives.

Let's continue our journey together, empowering the 'Voice of the Dealer' and driving our industry towards greater success.

Warm Regards,

Manish Raj Singhania
President- FADA