In a significant development for the Indian automotive market, Škoda Auto India has officially registered on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal, making its popular models, the Kushaq and Slavia, available for direct purchase by government entities.
What is GeM?
The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is India’s premier online procurement portal, providing a streamlined and transparent platform for government agencies to purchase goods and services. Managed by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, GeM is on track to become the world’s largest government e-procurement portal, set to surpass South Korea’s KONEPS by the end of the fiscal year.
The GeM portal is a critical tool in modernizing public procurement in India, offering a paperless, cashless, and contactless ecosystem. It allows Central and State Ministries, Public Sector Enterprises, Autonomous Institutions, and Local Government bodies to directly procure products and services from registered sellers across India. Through features like e-bidding, e-auction, reverse e-auction, and demand aggregation, GeM enhances efficiency, transparency, and inclusivity in public procurement processes.
Expanding Reach via GeM
Škoda Auto India’s inclusion on the GeM portal marks a strategic milestone in its expansion plans within the Indian market. By registering on GeM, Škoda is positioning itself to directly supply its vehicles to government departments and agencies, streamlining the procurement process for its made-in-India vehicles.
Riding on the success of its made-in-India models, Škoda has made the Kushaq SUV and Slavia sedan available on the GeM portal. Both vehicles have been designed specifically for the Indian market, based on the robust MQB-A0-IN platform developed collaboratively by teams in India and the Czech Republic.
First Delivery and Future Prospects
The first Škoda vehicle has already been delivered to a government buyer through the GeM portal, signaling the beginning of what is expected to be a fruitful collaboration. As the platform grows, Škoda Auto India is poised to play a key role in meeting the transportation needs of various government agencies across the country.
Also Read: Škoda offers Flood Relief Support for customers in India