# Ninth ETAuto Retail Forum begins, focuses on OEM-dealer tech synergy 2026-08-27T12:46:05+00:00 | Business & Economy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The ninth edition of the ETAuto Retail Forum kicked off today, bringing together automotive industry leaders for a day-long discussion on the evolving role of dealerships in a technology-driven era. The forum's agenda centres on artificial intelligence-led retail, changing OEM-dealer relationships, customer journey transformation, and building sustainable and profitable mobility businesses. Key topics include how dealerships can adapt to digital shifts, strengthen collaboration with original equipment manufacturers, and leverage new technologies to improve customer experience. The event aims to outline actionable strategies for the future of automotive retail in India. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The forum arrives as India's auto retail sector faces pressure from rising digitisation, changing consumer preferences, and the push for electric vehicles. Dealerships, traditionally the primary sales and service touchpoint, are having to redefine their role amid direct-to-consumer models by some OEMs and the growth of online car buying platforms. The challenge for the industry will be balancing the efficiency of AI and digital tools with the personal touch that dealerships provide, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. The outcome of these discussions could influence how automakers restructure their sales networks in the coming year. ## Coverage - auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com Straightforward event announcement with no discernible slant This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: Artificial intelligence, automotive retail, ETAuto, OEM Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/ninth-etauto-retail-forum-begins-focuses-on-oem-dealer-tech-synergy/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/ninth-etauto-retail-forum-begins-focuses-on-oem-dealer-tech-synergy/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/