Q: Congratulations on assuming the charge of the President of FADA. What are your immediate priorities?

Gulati: Thank you!

The past eight to nine months have been a challenging time for the entire humanity and every business sector. It has been a difficult phase for the dealer fraternity too. We have worked in very adverse conditions with zero business and zero earnings, along with a high operational cost. Post reopening of dealerships, proper decontamination and sanitisation of the entire premises, vehicles, employees, etc., have added cost to dealers who were already seeing slow sales for over 18 months in the pre-COVID era.

We are a resilient lot, and COVID has taught us to make tough decisions to ensure that our business and community survive, while offering the best of our services to customers. During my tenure, I will rigorously take up all our dealer issues at every possible platform and offer the association the finest representation, better visibility and hearing, offering a competitive business and operational environment to our fraternity.

The automobile industry has been an important driving force in India’s economic growth. Reviving the automobile industry is vital to regain lost momentum in the economy. The Government and the sector need to work together to strengthen the industry, wherein the dealer fraternity is an important element in the system.

One of the key issues which we will be working upon is improving dealer margins. Over the years, profitability has dwindled due to high costs and low operating margins.

Auto dealerships in India are operating at an average net profit level of 0.5 percent to one percent of the total turnover, which is much lower than the global standard, as internationally, dealer margins range from seven percent to 12 percent on selling price of the vehicle.

We have already written to SIAM about this, and we will further strongly urge all our OEMs to make the dealer business more sustainable and shockproof.

While we were trying to bring auto dealers under the ambit of MSME, we will up the ante further and make sure that dealers are treated at par with other businesses who are reaping the benefits of being an MSME.

Further, as a category, 2-wheelers comprise 75 percent of the sales in India, and I am working to make an exclusive 2-wheeler vertical at FADA.

This will specifically work on the nuances of 2-wheeler dealership such as sub-dealers, brokers etc. The dynamics of 2-wheeler dealers are very different from 4-wheeler dealers and hence need special attention. As they say, fortune is at the bottom of the pyramid!

FADA will continue to take up issues concerning regulatory and legislative burdens, representing the dealer fraternity across every possible platform. We will continue to reach out to our principals and build strong relationships moving ahead.

Q: FADA has been working on increasing dealer margins for ages but ends up in a stalemate. Where is the issue? How are you going to tackle this?

Gulati: Yes, this is one issue which we have been working for many years, but efforts were not made concretely until sometimes back. It’s during the 2nd Auto Retail Conclave, when we brought up the issue to our executive committee, had a panel discussion exclusively on dealer margins. There onwards, we started building momentum with continues efforts in this direction, and a few months back we also did a study on dealer margin offered by individual OEM to their respective dealers across the product lineup. This was an eye-opener for the entire fraternity as nothing of this sort was brought out in the past; this showcased that Indian dealer’s community were working on a minimal margin which was way below the global standards.

I am happy to mention that post this study, few OEMs have reviewed their dealer margin, few are in discussion with their management and respective dealer council. However, the increased margins are still not at a level which we have been asking for, but a movement has started, which is quite encouraging for the entire community.

Dealership business has a significant daily expense which is addressed by the dealer from his marginal profit. A better profit margin will help the dealer to re-invest a subsequent amount of his earning for the development and expansion of his business, which in return will add up a new business to OEMs.

We will continue to do this kind of studies in times to come and also keep negotiating with our principals as they also understand that their first customers are not in good shape and they require higher margins to sustain their business.

Q: What according to you are the skill gaps persist in the automotive industry still and how FADA is addressing this?

Gulati: Skill gap is a subject which is never-ending as technology keep changing, and we need to make a continuous effort to upgrade our manpower. In recent time, the automobile industry has gone a long way in terms of technology upgrade.

To address this change, all the three auto Associations (Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), Federation of Indian Automobile Dealer Associations (FADA) and Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM)) have come together in tune with National Skill Development Council and created ASDC (Automotive Skill Development Council) which looks to reduce the gap in between yesterday’s skills and today’s requirement. FADA has been making a continues effort to keep our dealership manpower at par with the newer technologies.

At FADA, we are starting up with a FADA Academy which will hold courses for Dealer Principals and their Chief Experience Officers to train them in running an efficient dealership business from all aspects.

Q: With more than 50 percent of the work in purchasing any vehicle done online, where do you see the role of dealers in the future? Do you see the new trend fuelling unemployment further?

Gulati: Getting prospective customers through the online route is a growing trend. Dealers and manufacturers have been active on online platforms for quite a long time now. The pandemic is the reason for this change in consumer behaviour. Earlier, customers had to visit dealerships several times before the final buy. e.g. all loan formalities, document verification, vehicle test drive etc. These are now offered online or at the doorstep. But for the final sale, customers have to visit the dealerships to test the vehicle and take delivery.

Today every customer is well informed. The vehicle-buying experience involves several steps, right from an online search, specific automobile website visits, going through views, reviews, product comparison, collecting information from peers, social media and users and evaluating a brand, product and its services.

Only after doing all these research consumers make their decision. It is not just a transaction for the customer, but more about in getting into a relationship of trust. That is where the dealerships come into play. Every customer wants to experience the vehicle physically before closing the deal. More importantly, they want to meet up face-to-face with the dealer and satisfy themselves before committing to this high-ticket purchase.

I don’t think there is any change in the playbook, but digital has now moved from “Nice to have” to Necessity. In this COVID era, with total lockdown, digital marketing has played a significant role in boosting sales and smooth execution. Every dealership has initiated digital training of its manpower, equipping them to conduct sales coordination through a digital platform. This initiative has further enhanced its sales and service reach. Dealerships must be the most frugal and flexible link across the automobile network.

Dealers and dealerships have always been the face of the brand and will continue to be so. I don’t see any immediate challenge or threat to the dealership business. However, with companies being more aggressive and active on online platforms, this will add on to dealership engagement with the brand and the customers, helping them further to enhance their sales and service reach and experience.

Q: What are the challenges you face with emerging technology trends like vehicle electrification?

Gulati: I don’t see vehicle electrification as a challenge for the dealer fraternity. The dealer community has been one of the most adaptable segments of the automobile ecosystem. We have always strived to keep ourselves at par with the manufacturers, and it’s business requirement, product and services utility. The dealer business is one business which significantly depends on its skilled workforce across the offerings such as sales, aftersales, engineering, etc. With every new product or technology, the dealer in association with its OEM partner makes certain that it initiates rigorous training for its employees so that it can offer the best service to its customers on behalf of the brand.

As far as vehicle electrification is concerned, India is still at a very initial level as electric PVs still have less than 0.25 percent market share. The EV segment requires immense Government support in terms of infrastructure, subsidy, allowance, recognition, etc., to get the segment to grow. I don’t want to comment on the technicalities of the segment and its products and services. Instead, on behalf of the entire dealer fraternity, I would like to assure that as a community we are committed to offering all necessary support and service to the Government for its vision about the EV industry.

Q: Episodes like FIAT & Peugeot (decades ago) and GM & MAN Trucks (in the recent past) etc., exiting the Indian market continues, leading the dealerships to lurch. What kind of safeguard mechanisms can we have to support the dealer community?

Gulati: Setting up a global brand dealership in India is a massive cost which varies from brands to segment, size of the dealership, region, location, etc. On an average setting up a premium 2-wheeler brand dealership cost somewhere around INR8-10 crore whereas setting up a premium 4-wheeler brand requires close to INR 20 - 30 crore. It is not just the setting up of a dealership which is a cost, the operation of a dealership is also a huge which involves day to day operational cost, vehicle stocking, employee salary etc. The dealer bears all this. As you know, the dealership business operates on a very minimal profit margin; any such activity by any brand ends up leading to capital loss along with loss of jobs in the sector. And now the pandemic poses another challenge for the dealer fraternity.

For example, the recent announcement by Harley-Davidson to discontinue its manufacturing and sales operations in India has left its Indian dealers stranded. This will result in the closure of 35 Harley-Davidson dealerships, with an approximate capital loss of INR 110-130 crores, besides also leading to a job loss of around 1,800-2,000 people at dealerships.

This is the fourth instance of automobile companies exiting India in the last three years (since 2017). Earlier, General Motors, MAN Truck and UM Lohia had quit their Indian operations, leaving their dealers in a similar fix. Due to FADA’s strong intervention and the Indian Government’s full-fledged support, General Motors and MAN Trucks had partially compensated their channel partners, but the UML matter remains unresolved till date.

Had there been a Franchise Protection Act in India, brands like these would not have abruptly closed their operations, leaving their channel partners and customers in the lurch.

We are already working on a draft with our legal team and have initiated communication with other retail associations to bring the Franchise law in India, which will support the dealer fraternity in the dire situation of an exit or termination.

We would also request the Government to initiate the law on priority as this law will help level the playing field for large international and domestic automakers and dealers and also help in regulating over-dealerisation.

Q: What kind of support/guidance FADA has given to its members to tide over the current situation triggered by the pandemic?

Gulati: These are unprecedented times. Everybody is making the best efforts to emerge from it in their own way. The auto dealership is one such business which was deeply impacted by COVID-19. The auto dealership is a very marginal profit business, and we do not have large funds like car and component manufacturers have, which makes it more difficult for us to emerge from this difficult time. The industry was already struggling with a 15 to 16-month slowdown, and the lockdown has pushed the entire industry further back.

FADA has provided all possible and necessary help to its dealer members. At the time of the lockdown, FADA wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apprise him about the dealers’ issues and suggesting dealership survival and demand revival initiatives. Apart from this, FADA wrote a letter to SIAM making them aware of the situation of the dealers, requesting them to review the dealer margin and extend their support so that dealer can survive these difficult times. FADA quite actively worked to protect dealers from the loss on remaining stocks of BS-IV vehicles from the ban on the sale. The association petitioned the Supreme Court to extend the dateline for sale of these vehicles. At the same time, while securing the future of dealers, FADA demanded that car makers increase the dealer margin to five percent PBT and reduce the infrastructure cost by 25 percent.

FADA conducted online training for its dealer brothers, training them to prepare for maximum work with limited resources. (MT)

Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), the apex national body for automobile retail in India, has unveiled the findings of its sixth annual Dealer Satisfaction Study (DSS) 2026. The results were announced during a prestigious awards ceremony at the 8th Auto Retail Conclave on 1 September. This comprehensive industry barometer is conducted in collaboration with PremonAsia, a Singapore-based consumer-insight and advisory firm.

The 2026 study broadened its analytical framework to include the Tractor and Wheeled Construction Equipment sectors for the first time. The Tractor segment recorded a satisfaction index of 784, while the 4-Wheeler Luxury category posted an index of 758. JSW MG Motor maintained its dominant position in the 4-Wheeler Mass Market with an industry-leading score of 865 points. Royal Enfield retained its top ranking in the Two-Wheeler category with 878 index points, closely pursued by Hero MotoCorp.

The Commercial Vehicle segment witnessed a shift in leadership, with Tata Motors CV ascending to the top spot with 800 points, narrowly edging out Ashok Leyland. In the Pure Electric category, Ather Energy and VinFast Auto emerged as frontrunners in the 2-Wheeler and 4-Wheeler sub-segments, respectively. BMW in the 4-Wheeler Luxury segment and Mahindra's Swaraj Division in tractors secured pole positions in their respective categories.

The aggregate Industry Average Dealer Satisfaction score rose by 29 points to 810. The Two-Wheeler segment improved by 35 points to 827, while the 4-Wheeler Mass segment saw a 39-point increase to 810. Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Kia Motors recorded the most notable gains among 4W Mass OEMs, while VECV-Eicher demonstrated strong improvement in the CV space.

Product attributes continue to garner the highest scores, reflecting robust dealer confidence in reliability and refresh cycles. After-Sales service holds the highest importance in dealers' minds, and together with Sales & Order Planning and Business Viability & Policy, these account for nearly 68 percent of dealer priorities. Business Viability & Policy remains the lowest-scoring factor, with dealers highlighting challenges such as unsold inventory buyback policies, training cost-sharing and margins on vehicles and spare parts.

Two-Wheeler dealers appreciate product reliability but voice concerns over inventory write-offs and cost-sharing. In the 4-Wheeler Mass segment, operational pressures like stock carrying costs and network expansion policies are paramount. Commercial Vehicle dealers are focused on service economics including labour rates and warranty reimbursement, while Tractor dealers seek improvements in trial-vehicle support and warranty policies.

Profitability and margins are the most frequently cited requests for improvement, followed by concerns regarding the EV transition and OEM relationships. Dealers are increasingly calling for fairer agreement principles, greater predictability in network policies and more robust support systems to navigate the evolving automotive landscape.

FADA President Sai Giridhar said, “The DSS 2026 continues to provide an important reflection of the evolving Dealer–OEM relationship. This year’s record participation reinforces the confidence of dealers in using this platform to voice their expectations and concerns. While product quality, reliability and range continue to be strong areas, the findings clearly underline the need for greater focus on dealer viability, including sustainable margins, inventory and buyback policies, training cost-sharing and greater clarity in OEM policies. Dealers are also seeking more structured involvement in decision-making and regular engagement with OEMs at national, regional and zonal levels. As the automotive retail business evolves, particularly with the transition towards new technologies, strengthening dealer economics and ensuring a fair, collaborative and sustainable OEM–dealer relationship will be critical for the industry’s long-term growth.”

PremonAsia Director and COO Rahul Sharma said, “The Overall Dealer Satisfaction Index has moved up 29 points over 2025. Changing importance of factors influencing dealer satisfaction displays the dynamic nature of Industry. While Product remains the strongest pillar, After-Sales, Sales & Order Planning and Business Viability & Policy together account for nearly two thirds of dealer mind space. The 2026 DSS study is not just about ‘who ranks where’; it is a clear mandate to build a more viable, fair and future-ready dealer ecosystem. The Voice of Dealer reinforces the quantitative findings – profitability, inventory, dealer rights and future readiness are now central to the OEM-dealer partnership.”

Mercedes-Benz has inaugurated India's first 'Mercedes-Benz Studio' in Gurugram, Delhi NCR, establishing a new global brand experience format in the country. Located at DLF One Horizon Centre, the studio is designed to bring the luxury automaker closer to customers in key metropolitan areas through experimental and immersive interactions. The opening ceremony also featured the Indian debut of the CONCEPT AMG GT XX supercar and the launch of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 e-bike range, developed in partnership with EMotorad.

The studio offers more than a traditional showroom, housing a curated vehicle display alongside a design and material library, a Mercedes-Benz lifestyle collection and exclusive Mercedes-AMG X adidas merchandise. An exclusive Lavonne Café enhances the experience, serving 16 patisserie creations inspired by the brand's design language, featuring sculpted lines and a luxury palette of black, silver and gold. This innovative space allows visitors, from enthusiasts to families, to discover the brand at their own pace within a warm, modern luxury environment that embodies the 'Welcome Home' promise.

This Gurugram studio is part of a worldwide initiative that has established similar destinations in over 14 leading cities across four continents, following the first studio in Copenhagen. Each location is tailored to its city's character within a global framework, ensuring market-specific execution while maintaining brand consistency. The primary objectives include raising awareness among new audiences, deepening long-term customer relationships and reinforcing the brand's presence in India's premier metropolitan markets.

The studio concept is integral to the 'Welcome Home' narrative and coincides with Mercedes-Benz's 2026 celebration of ‘140 Years of Innovation’, commemorating Carl Benz's original patent. These physical destinations serve as convergence points for culture, innovation and urban life. At prime global locations, customers can engage with the latest products, exclusive events, and strategic partnerships, allowing genuine immersion in the Mercedes-Benz brand within their familiar urban environments.

The initiative strategically strengthens urban brand leadership by creating visible touchpoints where brand perception is formed. Visitors can book test drives prior to their visit through the Mercedes-Benz India website and purchase collection items and F1 merchandise at the studio. The collaboration with Lavonne Café results in precision-engineered patisserie, with each creation plated and finished to reflect the automotive brand's aesthetic, including metallic lacquers and signature colour tones.

The CONCEPT AMG GT XX, finished in sunset beam orange, showcases the brand's sensual purity design philosophy with a dynamic fastback silhouette and six circular deep red taillights. The AMG e-bike range, assembled in India by EMotorad, includes City, Track and Rallye editions, all featuring a 250W motor and 25 kmph assistance speed, requiring no registration or insurance in India. Pre-orders are open with deliveries starting mid-September 2026, supported by EMotorad's service network across 55 locations.

Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “Customer engagement with luxury has been evolving, as they desire specially curated spaces to enjoy spending time; experience the latest products, connect with the brand and immerse in an unmistakably familiar ‘Welcome Home’ feeling synonymous with Mercedes Benz. Mercedes Benz Studio presents this unhurried discovery, spending quality time, experiencing elevated culinary delight, making visitors feel welcome and interacting in novel, experimental ways. We are equally excited to showcase our alluring cars in the heart of the city, where customers can experience them in a relaxed and inspiring setting. We are confident ‘Mercedes-Benz Studio’ will create an immersive brand experience for customers as we plan to expand this concept to other metropolises gradually.

“The Studio opens with a distinct AMG flavour for enthusiasts. The CONCEPT AMG GT XX showcases Mercedes-AMG redefining standards of performance with groundbreaking technologies and innovations, underlining an entirely new dimension of a sustained electric future for customers. The launch of AMG F1 PETRONAS e-bikes in India is a natural extension of the AMG brand. These world-class F1 e-Bikes will enable more AMG enthusiasts to connect with the brand’s unique DNA of performance, design and craftsmanship.”

IDFC FIRST Bank has launched an accelerator programme in collaboration with the Pilani Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Society (PIEDS) at BITS Pilani. This initiative operates under the IGNITE startup incubation programme, which is managed by the bank’s CSR division, FIRST IMPACT. The partnership is designed to foster enterprises that address critical health and environmental challenges.

The programme will provide catalytic grants, incubation, acceleration, mentorship and ecosystem connections to nurture purpose-driven ventures. It aims to strengthen business and investment readiness while promoting sustainable, high-impact solutions. Eight startups from across India have been selected to participate, focusing on climate technology, carbon reduction and removal, AI and machine learning-based healthcare diagnostics, medical devices and assistive technologies.

These selected startups will receive mentorship, business guidance, access to industry experts and investors and performance-linked grants of up to INR 2,500,000 each. The initiative seeks to scale innovative solutions for carbon sustainability and healthcare accessibility. It is also expected to contribute to employment generation and broader sustainable development goals within the country.

Saptarshi Bapari, Head, Investor Relations and ESG, said, “India is witnessing a remarkable wave of entrepreneurship, with innovators building solutions that are shaping a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient future. What many early-stage startups need is the right support at the right time to turn promising ideas into scalable solutions that can create meaningful impact. Through the IGNITE Social Incubation Program, we are supporting startups working in healthcare and climate sustainability, two areas that are critical to the well-being of our communities and the future of our planet. Our partnership with BITS Pilani combines funding, mentorship and access to a strong innovation ecosystem, helping entrepreneurs accelerate their growth and bring their ideas to life. We hope this initiative empowers founders to scale their solutions, reach more people and create lasting positive impact at scale.”

Prof V Ramgopal Rao, Vice-Chancellor, BITS Pilani, said, “BITS Pilani has spent five decades building an entrepreneurial ecosystem, with impact across all sectors and geographies. We are excited to launch IGNITE to deliver measured community impact across Health and Climate – partnering with IDFC FIRST Bank allows us to apply that discipline to two sectors where India's need is most urgent.”

The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), the apex national body of automobile retail in India, has announced the appointment of Sai Giridhar as its President. He is the 38th President of the organisation and will be in chair for FY2026-27 and FY2027-28. The decision was made at the 323rd Governing Council Meeting, held immediately pst the 62nd Annual General Meeting.

The Managing Director of Saisha Motors Pvt Ltd, Jaipur, Giridhar has been in the auto business for over 30 years. He operates Skoda, Volvo Cars, JSW MG and MG Select dealerships and started his journey in 1995 with a Daewoo dealership in Jaipur. He has served for long as the Secretary of the Authorised Motor Association of Rajasthan for the past 10 years and has been associated with FADA for more than 10 years, holding posts of State Chairperson of Rajasthan for four years before getting inducted in central leadership team.

Besides Giridhar, the FADA Governing Council also elevated Amar Jatin Sheth, Managing Director, Shaman Group as the Vice President. Pradeep Agarwal, Managing Parter, JMG Group, has taken over as the secretary. Bharat Kumar Chordia, Managing Director, Khivraj Motors, has taken over as the treasurer for FY2026-27 and FY2027-28.