Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), the apex national body of automobile retail industry in India engaged in the sale, service and spares of 2/3-wheelers, passenger cars, UVs, commercial vehicles and tractors, said the Budget seeks to lay the foundation for the next 25 years, from India@75 to India@100.
FADA President Vinkesh Gulati said PM's Gati Shakti National Master Plan for building comprehensive infrastructure in India will be a significant step towards development path. The Budget has attempted to focus on each sector and has also tried to stimulate the economy after the pandemic slowdown, Gulati said.
FADA welcomes and supports the government's efforts & initiatives towards Electric Mobility. There is a clear emphasis on creative, sustainable & innovative business models. Battery Swapping & Energy as a Service (EAAS) will surely help accelerate the transition towards clean mobility, he said.
The development of special mobility zones for electric vehicles and promoting clean technology for public transport validate government commitment to E-mobility, which would boost confidence in the EV industry in terms of manufacturing, sales, and create a sense of assurance among customers. The government's plans for developing 25,000 kms of new highways will result in a push for infrastructure spending, which will increase commercial vehicle sales, as well as an addition of 2,000 kms of road under a new scheme known as 'Kavach' will be an additional benefit to the revival of this segment. With the extension of the ECLG scheme, it is a remarkable move by the government to support the MSME sector coming out of the slowdown caused by pandemics, he said.
Rural India has generally been the key driver for the entry-level passenger vehicle segment & 2wheeler space. With government plans on 2.3 lakh crore direct payment as MSP to farmers, it will be a booster for 2Wheeler, Tractor & entry-level PV sector sales. However, an additional duty of rupees 2/ litre on unblended fuel from October 2022 could play a spoilsport for the already stressed 2W industry, Gulati added.