Delhi EV Policy Must Protect Dealer Livelihoods: FADA

The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) on Friday called on the Delhi government to give dealers a meaningful seat at the table as the capital works to finalise its electric vehicle (EV) policy, warning that livelihoods across the retail network must not be overlooked in the push for cleaner mobility. Speaking at an industry event in Delhi, FADA President C S Vigneshwar described the capital as central to India's broader mobility shift, both as a policy leader and a testing ground for new approaches, Autocar Professional reported.

Referring to the recently circulated EV policy draft, he said the industry supports the direction of travel but stressed that the transition must remain practical and inclusive.

"Enablement always goes faster than enforcement," he was quoted as saying, adding that the livelihoods of those working across the dealer ecosystem needed to be built into any policy framework.

FADA Delhi Chairperson Shailendra Luthra echoed the call, directly appealing to the city's leadership. "I would like to request the Hon'ble Chief Minister to continue supporting our dealer community in upcoming policies, to consider our suggestions, and to ensure sustained employment and growth for every family dependent on this industry," he was quoted as saying.

The remarks came against a backdrop of strong retail performance. Delhi's automobile market grew 17 per cent in March 2026, with two-wheelers up 30 per cent, passenger vehicles rising 25 per cent and commercial vehicles climbing 22 per cent. Close to 800,000 new vehicles were registered in the city over the past year. 

Electric vehicle adoption is growing sharply within the broader growth story. Electric two-wheelers rose 62 per cent, passenger EVs grew 41 per cent and commercial EVs surged nearly 700 per cent, pointing to a rapid shift in certain segments of the market.

Vigneshwar reinforced the point that dealers represent the final link between policy and the customer, and that the practical weight of managing the transition would fall squarely on the retail network, making close alignment between government intent and ground-level conditions all the more important.