The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) inaugurated the 13th edition of the Auto Summit 2025, its flagship biennial convention, now an annual event aligned with Bharat Mobility, the Global Expo. Themed "Safe, Efficient & Sustainable: Shaping Tomorrow’s Mobility," the summit highlights the Indian retail automobile industry's progress and outlook.

Dubbed the "Maha Kumbh" of India’s automobile retail industry, the summit welcomed Union Minister for Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy as the Chief Guest with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Jairam Gadkari, addressing the gathering virtually as the Guest of Honour.

A prestigious platform for manufacturers, government officials, dealers, industry analysts, academia and thought leaders, the FADA Auto Summit fosters discussions on auto retail's evolving dynamics, emerging opportunities and strategic visions.

Auto Summit 2025 featured 75 distinguished speakers across 20 sessions, providing stakeholders an unmatched opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue, share insights and explore sustainable growth strategies for the sector's future.

Recognising the automotive industry’s contribution to the Indian economy, Kumaraswamy said, “The 13th Auto Summit is a pivotal moment for India’s automotive sector, focused on the theme "Safe, Efficient & Sustainable: Shaping Tomorrow’s Mobility." Safety remains a core priority, with an emphasis on enhancing road safety standards, integrating advanced driver-assistance systems, and improving infrastructure. Achieving this requires collaboration among manufacturers, dealers, policymakers, and consumers to reduce accidents and protect lives. Efficiency is also at the forefront, as evidenced by the 9% growth in vehicle sales in 2024, reaching 26.1 million units. This growth reflects the industry's focus on cutting-edge technologies that streamline manufacturing and enhance customer experiences across all segments.”

He added, “Sustainability is now a necessity. In 2024, electric vehicle (EV) sales surged to 14,08,245 units. Together, these efforts, supported by FADA and the government, are positioning India as a global leader in safe, efficient, and sustainable mobility, ensuring the sector meets both consumer needs and global challenges like climate change and road safety.”

Speaking at the occassion Gadkari stated , “The Indian automobile sector is witnessing a remarkable transformation, growing from INR 7 lakh crore to INR 22 lakh crore, now surpassing Japan globally, and becoming the fastest-growing economy in the world. As the 5th largest economy, India is on track to become the 3rd largest, backed by its immense skilled and youth workforce. The country's potential in raw materials, especially at reasonable rates, positions us to lead in industries ranging from 2Ws and tractors to alternative fuel options.”

He added, “India is not just leading domestically and now has a strong foothold in the international market, with 50% of the two-wheeler segment being exported. The focus on clean, sustainable energy—ranging from ethanol and biodiesel to hydrogen and electric—underscores our commitment to a greener future. As we work towards reducing our dependency on fossil fuels, we’re creating employment opportunities for millions, with the automobile sector alone poised to generate up to 4 crore jobs. The industry’s future looks promising, with a competitive edge driven by research, innovation, and the focus on quality. We are committed to making India an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, achieving self-sufficiency, while also positioning ourselves as global leaders. Initiatives like the pilot project in Nagpur for ropeway cable cars and flash-charging buses highlight the industry's focus on cutting-edge technology for urban mass transport. The potential for growth is enormous, as we continue to expand both the domestic and export markets. With strong research, investment in institutions like IITs, and a robust focus on sustainability, India is well on its way to being a global powerhouse in the automobile sector."

Alludng to the occassion, FADA President C S Vigneshwar said, “As we gather today at FADA’s 13th Auto Summit, it is inspiring to reflect on the significant progress our industry has made in shaping India’s automotive landscape. Over the past year, the sector has displayed remarkable resilience, achieving a 9% growth in vehicle retail. This success highlights the strength of consumer confidence and the dedication of all stakeholders in the ecosystem. This year the theme of the summit, ‘Safe, Efficient & Sustainable: Shaping Tomorrow’s Mobility,’ underscores the collective responsibility we share to shape an automotive future that is not only technologically advanced but also mindful of our environmental and societal obligations. As vehicle penetration increases, it is essential that we prioritize road safety, enhance operational efficiency, and accelerate our transition to sustainable mobility solutions. These are not just goals but imperatives for the industry to thrive and for India to emerge as a global leader in mobility.”

He added, “The successful implementation of FAME I and II, along with the ongoing PM eDrive initiative, are crucial steps in India's journey towards cleaner and greener vehicles, and FADA remains committed to supporting these efforts.”

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German leading mechanical and plant engineering firm Durr has announced that it has been selected to equip Volvo Cars' manufacturing facility in Košice, Slovakia, with final assembly automation technology.

The plant represents the automaker's dedicated facility for all-electric vehicles and is planned to commence production in 2027 with a maximum annual output capacity of 250,000 units.

As per the understanding, Durr will supply turnkey conveyor, fluid filling and testing infrastructure integrated through its NEXT.assembly framework. The installation features fluid filling equipment configured to handle low-conductivity coolants and updated air conditioning refrigerants designed to comply with European regulatory changes. The vehicle conveyance network spans over three kilometres within the facility, utilising electric monorail systems, skillet platforms and modular chain conveyors to transport vehicle bodies and door components between assembly stations.

For end-of-line testing and quality control, Durr is installing its x-wheel chassis alignment system equipped with x-3Dsurface optical sensors, alongside the x-light camera-based measurement system for inspecting and adjusting headlamp modules in accordance with ECE and SAE standards.

Jorg Neumann, Director of the End of Line Product Line, Durr in Germany, said, “Volvo Cars has exceptionally high standards when it comes to measurement accuracy. We are very familiar with these standards, as Dürr equips all Volvo sites worldwide with vehicle geometry and headlight alignment technology.”

Andreas Hohmann, CEO of Durr Italy and Vice-President of NEXT.assembly, said, “Our fully automated final assembly system represents a significant advancement in automotive manufacturing, combining precision engineering with cutting-edge automation to deliver exceptional quality and efficiency.”

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Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra is moving towards taking possession of an initial package of approximately 800 acres for an automobile and tractor manufacturing facility at Additional Butibori in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

The site forms part of a planned 1,500-acre development in Vidarbha, which will be accompanied by a 150-acre supplier park in Sambhajinagar.

When fully operational, the site will feature an annual production capacity exceeding 500,000 vehicles and 100,000 tractors. The Sambhajinagar supplier park will provide components to the Nagpur facility and to Mahindra's existing production plants in Chakan and Nashik.

Furthermore, Mahindra is also establishing training frameworks to identify and develop workforce capabilities for manufacturing across powertrains and technologies. Over the next two to three years, existing associates will be considered through a selection process to fill roles at the facility based on technical capability, performance and alignment with company standards.

Mahindra also plans to establish a training centre in Nagpur to build technical skills in areas including mechanical operations, welding and painting. Further operational details regarding workforce requirements and recruitment processes will be released as project development continues.

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Czech automaker Skoda Auto is marking the 30th anniversary of the modern-generation Octavia, which first entered production on 3 September 1996. The model has served as the carmaker's core product following its integration into the Volkswagen Group, reaching total production of almost 7.9 million units across four generations. At present, the Skoda Octavia is manufactured in Mladá Boleslav and Kvasiny in the Czech Republic, as well as Kostanay in Kazakhstan.

Klaus Zellmer, CEO, Skoda Auto, said, "The Octavia has been an icon of the Skoda brand for three decades. As Combi or Liftback, it has consistently delivered what customers prefer: outstanding space, practicality, safety, and features at an exceptional value. In many ways, the Octavia defined the Skoda ambition to offer more than expected. This has resulted in the Octavia powering our international growth by earning the trust of generations of customers. While Skoda continues to evolve and expand into new segments, the Octavia remains a powerful symbol of customer-centric innovation and Simply Clever thinking."

The Skoda Octavia’s development began in 1992 under design chief Dirk van Braeckel, reviving a nameplate originally used by Skoda between 1959 and 1971. The initial liftback variant launched with a 528-litre boot capacity, supported by a production plant in Mlada Boleslav that increased the site's annual vehicle capacity from 90,000 to 350,000 units.

A Combi estate version joined the line-up in 1998, followed by an all-wheel-drive variant in 1999 and the first Octavia RS in 2000. The first generation recorded 1.44 million total unit sales before ending production in 2010.

The second-generation Octavia debuted in 2004, introducing dual-clutch transmission options and expanding boot capacity by 32 litres, achieving 2.6 million sales prior to its replacement in 2013. The third generation, manufactured from 2012 to 2020, incorporated revised driver assistance systems, reduced body weight, and efficiency updates, alongside an exterior facelift in 2017.

The current fourth-generation Octavia launched in November 2019 in liftback and Combi formats. An update introduced in early 2024 added safety equipment, including up to ten airbags and revised driver fatigue monitoring software, as the vehicle continues to serve commercial and private markets globally.

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has announced its automobile rake reached Pollachi Railway Terminal in Tamil Nadu, making it the first passenger vehicle manufacturer to dispatch vehicles by rail to the terminal.

The rake carried 120 vehicles, including Wagon R, Ertiga, Dzire and Celerio models, and departed from the Manesar in-plant railway siding on 18 August 2026.

Maruti Suzuki worked with Indian Railways to operationalise Pollachi Railway Terminal for rail-based vehicle dispatches. The location adds a destination in Southern India alongside Coimbatore.

The terminal enhances the ability of the company to serve customers across the region ahead of the Onam festival in Keralam. The facility can support 70 automobile rakes annually, enabling the delivery of 11,000 vehicles each year through railways.

Interestingly, the manufacturer adopted rail-based vehicle dispatches during FY 2014-15 to reduce CO2 emissions, fuel consumption and road congestion. The company increased the share of rail in outbound vehicle dispatches from 5 percent in FY 2014-15 to 26.5 percent in FY 2025-26, dispatching 3.2 million vehicles cumulatively via rail networks to date.

Maruti Suzuki India aims to increase the share of rail-based vehicle dispatches to 35 percent by FY 2030-31 to reinforce commitments to rail logistics.

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