Skoda Auto India has recently registered as a seller on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal, offering select car models for procurement by government entities.
The GeM portal is projected to become the world's largest government e-procurement platform by the end of the current fiscal year, surpassing South Korea's KONEPS. A government buyer has already purchased and received a Skoda vehicle through this platform.
The GeM portal serves as a national public procurement marketplace for government buyers in India. It provides an end-to-end online platform facilitating the purchase of goods and services by various government organisations, including Central and State Ministries, Departments, Public Enterprises, Autonomous Institutions, and Local Government bodies. The Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, oversees the portal.
GeM offers a digital ecosystem for government procurement, enabling paperless, cashless, and contactless transactions. It allows government buyers to directly purchase products and services from sellers and service providers across India through its online interface. The platform leverages digital technologies to streamline and modernise public procurement processes in the country.
The portal aims to improve transparency, efficiency, and inclusivity in government purchasing. It provides features such as e-bidding, e-auction, reverse e-auction, and demand aggregation. Government departments can now access and procure Skoda Auto India cars, along with other listed vehicles, through the GeM portal. This aligns with the government's initiative to promote domestically manufactured products.
Skoda Auto India's offerings on the GeM portal currently include the Kushaq and Slavia models. These vehicles are manufactured in India and are based on the MQB-A0-IN platform, which was developed collaboratively by teams in India and the Czech Republic to cater specifically to the Indian market.
Both models have received 5-star safety ratings for adult and child occupants under Global NCAP's latest test protocols. The Kushaq SUV and Slavia sedan are available with 1.0 TSI and 1.5 TSI engine options, paired with either a six-speed manual, six-speed automatic, or seven-speed DSG transmission.