FADA's 7th Auto Summit

 

7^th Auto Summit to focus on cyclic downturns

Road ahead for auto market in India is not a smooth drive all the way, with market hitting periodic speadbreakers, competition intensifying and infrastructure, marketing & manpower costs skyrocketing with each passing day.

Keeping in view the periodic bumps and cyclic downturns encountered from time to time in the past, the deliberations at the 7^th Auto Summit being organized by Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA on 9^th & 10^th January 2012 at Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi during Auto Expo will revolve around the theme: Shifting Gears – Terrain Ahead.

The theme of the Summit assumes an added significance in the backdrop of volatility and cyclic slowdown witnessed periodically. The growth has been tapering off of late and the Indian auto market is once again faced with the downbeat sentiment. If the past experience is anything to go by, the growth cannot be taken for granted.  Like the industry, automobile dealers have to be prepared to stand up to the current and emerging challenges. The theme of FADA’s 7^th Auto Summit emphasizes the need for switching gears in sync with the current and emerging scenario.

Addressing the media today to raise curtain on FADA’s 7^th Auto Summit, Mr Nikunj Sanghi, President, FADA said, “The Summit is being held in the midst of a none-too-buoyant automotive market and, for that matter, economic scenario, which are looking somewhat subdued. The macroeconomic indicators are not encouraging either to rekindle the hope that the present downbeat sentiment is transitory and will pass off soon.  Signals emanating from Euro zone are disturbing. Rupee is witnessing a free fall, making imports costlier.” 

“Given that the auto market has been confronted with periodic slowdown, the ability of an automobile dealer lies in steering through the highs and lows of the market unscathed. Gearing for ‘ups and downs’ is what the deliberations at our most prestigious biennial event, viz. Auto Summit 2012, scheduled for 9^th & 10^th January 2012 will centre around.  Keeping in view the changing dynamics and uncertainties, the theme of Auto Summit 2012 has been decided as “Shifting Gears – Terrain Ahead”. The slowdown, of late, after two years of buoyancy exemplifies the theme chosen for the convention. Therefore, to my mind, we could not have had a more appropriate theme,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Vinay Nevatia, Chairman, Auto Summit 2012 said, “A major issue that is of prime relevance to most of automobile dealers is the succession planning. In India, a preponderant majority of automobile dealerships are family-owned. The historical evidence suggests that most of these family-owned dealerships hardly survive by the time second or third generation takes charge due largely to the family disputes and lack of planning and grooming of the successor. In view of the importance of the subject, Auto Summit is going to have a motivational session for the young and new entrants in auto retail. The idea is that they step into the shoes of their predecessors without any hiccup and keep the family name, tradition and values intact. At the same time, new entrants in auto retail adopt healthy & ethical practices in their business life, aiming to promote the larger good and prosperity for the society as a whole.”

He added, “The Auto Summit 2012 is also going to the stepping-stone for the formation of an international organisation of automobile dealer associations of various countries.  FADA expects to sign an MoU with some of the countries that will be represented at the Summit, which will pave the way for formation of the international body representing auto retail at the global level.”

Elaborating on other salient features of Auto Summit 2012, Mr Rakesh Jain, Past President & Director – Conventions, FADA said, “The programme of Auto Summit 2012 has shaped up very well.  We are overwhelmed by the participation and support received from various quarters.  We have an impressive array of industry leaders and eminent speakers from within and outside India, including Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Dy Chairman, Planning Commission of India; Mr Anand Mahindra, Vice Chairman & MD, Mahindra and Mahindra; Mr S Sandilya, President, SIAM & Chairman, Eicher Group; and Mr Stephen Wade, Chairman, National Automobile Dealers Association. Auto Summit 2012 is going to be billed as the biggest ever event organised by FADA.”

The shortage of skilled manpower is a major concern today for automobile dealerships. While formation of Automotive Skill Development Council (ASDC) jointly founded by SIAM, ACMA and FADA under the aegis NSDC, will go a long way in filling the skill gaps in long term, for effective HR management, a workshop on Strategic HR has been scheduled as a part of the programme of Auto Summit.

FADA, as a responsible corporate citizen, is equally concerned with the social issues and has been promoting road safety and green initiatives at the automobile dealerships across the country. A large number of dealerships have undertaken road safety & green initiatives at their dealerships, such as, installing effluent treatment & water recycling plants and creating awareness about the environment and road safety by distributing saplings and road safety booklets to their customers.

About Auto Summit

Commencing from the year 2000, FADA has been organizing biennial Convention of Automobile Dealers, viz. Auto Summit at New Delhi coinciding with the Auto Expo. The Summits were a grand success attracting participation of 700-800 delegates representing dealerships, vehicle manufacturers, oil companies, banks, insurance & finance companies and media from all over the country and abroad. Practically, all leaders of automotive industry and allied businesses have addressed at this forum in the past on various issues of marketing, human resource management, customer satisfaction, E-commerce, customer satisfaction, etc. The previous Auto Summits were inaugurated by senior Government Ministers – viz. Mr Kamal Nath, Mr Praful Patel, Mr Rajnath Singh, Major B C Khanduri and Dr Ashwani Kumar. Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), founded in 1964, is the apex national body of Automobile Dealers in India. FADA represents over 6,000 Automobile Dealers dealing in the sale, spares and service of vehicles, passenger cars & UVs, 2/3 wheelers and tractors, in the country. The combined turnover of auto retail and service industry is over Rs. 350,000 crores.

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