Vinkesh Gulati, has been appointed as the 35th president of the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA). The decision was made at the 298th Governing Council Meeting which was held immediately after the 56th Annual General Meeting of the Federation held on Friday, September 5, 2020.

• Gulati’s appointment decided at FADA’s 298th Governing Council Meeting held on Friday, September 5, 2020
• Chittur Selvakumar Vigneshwar, to take over role of Secretary of FADA
• Sai Giridhar appointed new Treasurer for apex automobile dealer body

Who does Gulati take over from and what will be his tenure?

Gulati takes over from Ashish Harsharaj Kale and will fulfil the role of president from 2020 through to 2022.

Commenting on his appointment, Gulati said, “I am extremely humbled and honoured that the federation has placed its trust in me in taking up the position of next FADA president, an organisation which has a momentous past and an exciting future. We are a resilient lot and Covid has once again taught us to make tough decisions to ensure that our dealerships survive. During my tenure, I will rigorously take up dealer issues of improving dealership profitability may it be dealer margins, franchise act or coming under the ambit of MSME.”

Adding more, he said: "Despite these current challenges, India has the potential to soon become the third-largest automobile market in the world. We can truly fulfil our government’s vision of making India a global leader in automobiles if our ecosystem works in unison – Government, SIAM, ACMA and FADA.”

Gulati is the director of United Automobiles, based out of Allahabad and Faridabad. United Automobiles has been involved in the auto dealership business since 1985 and is the dealer for Mahindra & Mahindra and Bajaj Auto.

United Automobiles is part of the United Group, which started as a transport business in 1951. Over the years, the Group has expanded its activities in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi by opening Educational Institutes, Auto Dealerships, Diagnostic Centres and a Newspaper Publication.

Are there other new appointments?

Aside from the appointment of Gulati as the body’s new president, the Council also elevated Manish Raj Singhania, managing partner – Ralas Motors, Raipur (dealer for Mahindra & Mahindra) as the Vice-President and Chittur Selvakumar Vigneshwar, deputy managing director – Anaamalais Toyota, Coimbatore (Dealer for Toyota, Benelli and VE Commercial Vehicles) as the Secretary and Sai Giridhar - Director, Saisha Motors - Jaipur (dealer for Skoda Auto) as the Treasurer.