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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE The business of auto retail stood the test of time not only in India but globally too. For some it is a business in pursuit of passion and for others it is a re-warding and respectful source of livelihood. Very few business in retail have stood steady over the years. But we are proud to feature in this book those Auto retail organisations, which have stood steady and continue to do so, with immense strength and pride. The process of creating this coffee table book itself has been a truly enriching experience for each of us, since it called for deep diving into the past. The past always has great stories to tell. The photographs of the trade captured, during the years gone by are truly nostalgic for some of us and a discovery for others. This book I believe, will help in bringing our fraternity even more closer. I am very happy with the enthusiastic and rich contributions towards the content of the book by the Auto Principals and my dealer friends. I am sure that each of us in this industry will cherish and treasure this wonderful collector item. I wish that this book will motivate each of us to grow stronger in this business and also inspire people with passion in auto retail to join us.
K V S Prakash Rao President, FADA
7
50
Years
VISION
Enhance Dealer Community Image In Society At Large The Indian Automotive Industry, which has emerged as one of the vibrant sectors of the Indian economy, is today confronted with new challenges and threats. With the advent of IT, internet and social media; customers today, are more mature and enlightened. While there is a wide range of vehicles to choose from, the new launches and new technologies vie for the customers’ attention in an intensely competitive market. Their expectations have skyrocketed when it comes to standards of quality of products and services. Automobile dealers are faced with the new realities and opportunities. They need to keep pace and equip themselves suitably to stand up to the challenges arising from the changing paradigm. The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations – FADA, the apex national body representing Automobile Dealers of India was founded in 1964 by four regional auto trade associations to protect and promote the Indian retail automobile market. The association has been alive to the challenges emerging from the paradigm shift in automotive business and is making all efforts to improve the viability and all-round efficiency of auto dealerships in this fiercely competitive environment. Even as there are some specific issues confronting auto retail at the local or state level, most of the problems are common to automobile dealers across the country - be it viability or profitability, shortage and training of manpower, taxation issues, owning and retaining the customers or complexities of various laws governing dealerships.
As FADA strives to tackle these challenges and promote common interest for sustained growth of automotive business, its role assumes great importance. FADA constantly strives to: • Develop progressive mindset and to equip Automobile Dealer to face the threats and challenges in the automotive business. • Encourage and promote the spirit of co-operation and goodwill among Automobile Dealers. • Work towards improving dealership viability / profitability and management skills. • Develop training and consulting services that benefits the Dealers in healthy growth. • Assist automobile dealers in a knowledgeable and professional manner to enable them meet the customer’s ever-growing needs. • Increase public awareness of improved customer satisfaction. • Be a bridge with Central & State Governments, media and other stakeholders in Automotive Business chain. • Address issues of national concern, such as pollution from automobiles, road safety, traffic congestion, taxation policies, etc. as related to auto dealers, from a common platform. • Develop and maintain an atmosphere of trust between Dealers and Principal to usher in a culture of collaboration.
FADA Council Meeting 1972-73, Chief Guest- C Subramaniam, Honourable union Minister of Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission
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T S Santhanam Chennai 1964 - 1966
R R Iyer Kolkata 1966 - 1967
J M Rane Mumbai 1968 - 1969
K N Talwar New Delhi 1969 - 1971
M P Sanghvi Mumbai 1972 - 1973
FADA PRESIDENTS
1964 - 2014
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R K Poddar Kolkata 1974
T K Seshadri Chennai 1975
S P Sanghi Mumbai 1976
A K Agarwal New Delhi 1977
M C David Kolkata 1978
V K Surendra Bangalore 1978 - 1980
Surendra Nath New Delhi 1981 - 1982
K P Jhunjhunwala Kolkata 1983 - 1984
Bharat M Sanghvi Mumbai 1985 - 1987
S Gopu Chennai 1987 - 1988
M Ct Muthiah Chennai 1988 - 1989
Ramesh Suri New Delhi 1989 - 1990
Ravi Poddar Kolkata 1990 - 1992
Arun Sanghi Mumbai 1992 - 1994
K R Raghavan Chennai 1994 - 1996
Rakesh Jain New Delhi 1996 - 1998
Vinay Nevetia Kolkata 1998 - 2000
Kailash Gupta Jabalpur 2000 - 2002
Ajit Chordia Chennai 2002 - 2003
Deshnidhi Kasliwal Kota 2003 - 2004
Jayendra Kachalia Mumbai 2004 - 2005
Binod Agarwal Kolkata 2005 - 2007
Pradip R Kamdar Ahmedabad 2007 - 2008
S P Shah Mumbai 2008 - 2010
Nikunj Sanghi Alwar 2010 - 2012
Years
Mohan Himatsingka Patna 2012 - 2014
K V S Prakash Rao Hyderabad 2014
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VIP ATTENDANCE Second from left M. P. Sanghvi, then President FADA and K. N. Talwar, welcoming C. Subramaniam, Honourable Union Minister & Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission in 1972
FADA GLIMPSES International Networking Visit to Lambretta Scooter Factory in Italy in 1962. (L to R) K P Jhunjhunwala, M A Chidambaram-Chairman, API, Babu Malthem-MD,API, Italian Representative of Lambretta
International Visits Visit to Japan in 1984
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Auto Summit Rahul Bajaj lighting the lamp at 1st Auto Summit in 2000 as Rakesh Jain, Keshub Mahindra, Vinay Nevetia and Rajnath Singhlook on
Publications FADA introduced the brand new look of the association logo and journal in September 1999. Seen here is the first cover of the FADA Journal
Regional CONVENTIONS & MEETINGS Vilasrao Deshmukh, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, lights the inaugural lamp at the Western Region Auto Convention in February 2005. 13
ANNUAL SESSIONS Ratan Tata addressing the participants of FADA Annual Session held at The Oberoi, Mumbai in September 2001
FADA ACADEMY (L to R) Pawan Goenka, S.P. Shah, S V Suderson during the FADA SIAM Safe Service held in 2010
Interaction with automotive personalities FADA Office Bearers with Rahul Bajaj, CMD, Bajaj Auto Ltd. Jagdish Khattar, Former VP, SIAM at the interaction sessions
PRESS MEET FADA Office Bearers interacting with the members of press for the 1st Auto Summit in 2000
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Open house Sessions Praveen Mahajan, Former Commissioner of Central Excise, Jaipur, addressing an Open House Session held on March, 2004 in Jaipur.
ADEA AWARDS The award winners with B. M. Munjal, Chairman, Hero Motocorp and Dilip Chenoy, MD & CEO, NSDC at the 1st Automotive Dealership Excellence Awards held in New Delhi, January 2010.
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Lifetime achievement awards Across the years, FADA Lifetime Achievement Awards have been conferred on: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
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Kamal Kasliwal, Kamal & Co. K. P. Jhunjhunwala, J. J. Automotive T S Santhanam, TVS Group V T Velu, Souther Motors Group K. N. Talwar, Allied Motors A. K. Agarwal, Vikas Motors R D Kamdar, Automotive Manufacturers R. K. Poddar, Auto Distributors Indra Narayan Nundy, Nundy Automotives Devraj Chordia, Khivraj Motors M Ct Muthiah, The Reliance Motor Co. Bharat Sanghvi, Automotive Manufacturers Vinay Nevetia, Auto Centre Group Arun Sanghi Rakesh Jain
Lifetime contribution In 2012, the 1st FADA Lifetime Contribution Award was presented to Rahul Bajaj, Chairman, Bajaj Auto.
2012 The 1st FADA Lifetime Contribution Award was also presented to Keshub Mahindra, Chairman Emeritus, Mahindra & Mahindra.
2014 The 2nd FADA Lifetime Contribution Award was presented to B. M. Munjal, Founder & Chairman, Hero Motocorp.
2014 The 2nd FADA Lifetime Contribution Award was also presented to Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus, Tata Group.
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