Pema YK Loyi Becomes 1st Northeast Woman to Lead Women in FADA

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Wednesday, 2 September 2026

Pema YK Loyi, Managing Director of Iconic Automobiles (Arunachal Pradesh) has been appointed as Chairperson of Women in FADA (WIF), the women's wing of Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA). The appointment, which was made during FADA's 63rd Annual General Meeting in New Delhi, is a big leap for women's representation and leadership in the automotive retail industry in India.

Pema is the first woman from eastern and Northeastern region of India to hold the post of Women in FADA, marking a high prominent woman entrepreneur from Arunachal Pradesh in the national limelight. Her appointment is a sign of women's rising prominence in Northeast and their role in male dominated industries.

Key Highlights:

• Pema YK Loyi becomes first Northeast woman to lead Women in FADA
• Her appointment strengthens women’s leadership in automotive retail
• Pema will champion greater opportunities for women across dealerships

As an entrepreneur and automotive retail leader, Pema has built a strong professional presence in the Northeast. She has an unusual leadership path because of her emphasis on providing opportunities for women and inspiring them to enter the auto industry.

Among the most unique initiatives that are a part of her tenure at Mahindra is the Iconic Automobiles showroom in Itanagar, where all the vehicles are sold by women. The initiative represents how leadership by women can lead to real-life opportunities for women to access, develop and lead in sectors where women have historically been under-represented.

Pema has also become a strong advocate for more women to be part of the automotive retail industry. She was a speaker at the 13th FADA Auto Summit in 2025, during which she delivered a presentation in the session ‘Women in FADA – Driven by Courage', sharing her experiences and thoughts regarding the participation and leadership of women in FADA.

Her most recent appointment comes after numerous awards for her entrepreneurial vision. She was awarded the ‘Woman Transforming Auto Retail (East)’ Award at the 9th ETAuto Retail Forum 2026 in New Delhi in August of 2026. Her leadership and contribution to enhancing opportunities in the automotive retail sector was recognised.

In 2025, Bank of Baroda also honored Pema as one of the most prominent women entrepreneurs from the Northeastern region during its 118th Founders' Day, thus marking her contribution to entrepreneurship and advancement of women in the region.

In the new role as a national responsibility, Pema said she would be working on increasing the engagement of women in the entire automotive dealership value chain and more opportunities for women to lead and become entrepreneurs in the automotive sector.

The story of how she became a young entrepreneur in Arunachal Pradesh and then achieved leadership at the national level illustrates how opportunities for women entrepreneurs are growing outside of the traditional business centres. It also sheds light on the role of emerging region women leaders in shaping the discourse on gender diversity, women empowerment, inclusive leadership and career development.

The appointment of Pema as the new head of Women in FADA is no exception to this. This is part of a greater trend of women's empowerment in India's automotive industry as they become more than just employees, they are now business owners, driving change and moving the industry forward.