The event will be managed by Attitude Events and is being organised at Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi, on Jan 9 and 10. The theme of the seventh auto summit assumes an added significance against the backdrop of the periodically witnessed volatility and cyclic slowdown. The growth has been tapering off of late and the Indian auto market is once again faced with a downbeat sentiment. The premise of FADA's meeting emphasises the need for switching gears in sync with the current and emerging scenario.

Commenting on the same, Nikunj Sanghi, President, FADA said: "Given that the auto market has been confronted with periodic slowdowns, the ability of an automobile dealer lies in steering through the highs and lows of the market unscathed. Gearing for the ups and downs is what the deliberations at the biennial event will centre around."

"A major issue that is of prime relevance to most automobile dealers is 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 the second or third generation takes charge, largely due to family disputes, and the lack of planning and grooming of the successor," said Vinay Nevatia, Chairman, Auto Summit 2012.

The shortage of skilled manpower is a major concern today for automobile dealerships. While the formation of the 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 the long term, for effective HR management, a workshop on Strategic HR has been scheduled as a part of the programme at the Auto Summit.

Attitude has been associated with FADA for the past 10 years as a key client, and has been organising their events regularly .