Automobile Procurement on GeM Portal
Automobile procurement through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is policy-driven, specification-locked, and compliance-intensive. Government departments do not purchase vehicles like the open market. Every car, commercial vehicle, or EV is procured through a defined digital workflow with strict checks on OEM approval, Make in India, pricing logic, and post-delivery compliance.
What Comes Under Automobile Procurement on GeM
Government buyers procure the following vehicle categories:
Passenger Cars (Sedan, SUV, Utility Vehicles)
Commercial Vehicles (Trucks, Pick-ups, Vans)
Buses (Diesel, CNG, Electric)
Electric Vehicles (EV Cars, EV Buses)
Two-Wheelers (Bikes, Scooters)
Special Purpose Vehicles (Ambulance, Fire, Utility Vehicles)
Each category has separate technical parameters and compliance rules.
Who Buys Vehicles on GeM
Automobile procurement on GeM is done by:
Central & State Government Departments
PSUs & Autonomous Bodies
Railways & Defence-linked entities
Urban Local Bodies & Municipal Corporations
Each buyer may add department-specific conditions beyond standard GeM parameters.
Eligibility to Sell Automobile Products on GeM
Mandatory Vendor Eligibility
Active GST Registration
PAN & bank account in business name
GeM Seller Registration with automobile category enabled
Clean vendor history (no major penalties)
Vehicle-Specific Requirements
OEM authorization (mandatory)
Active dealership / OEM backing
Service & warranty infrastructure
Compliance with RTO & statutory norms
Brokers without OEM backing face limited eligibility.
Purchase Modes Used for Automobile Procurement
Government buyers use different modes depending on value and urgency.
🔹 Direct Purchase
Low-value or urgent requirements
Buyer compares live listings
Exact specification match required
🔹 L1 Purchase (BOQ-Based)
Bulk vehicle procurement
Lowest technically compliant bidder wins
🔹 Bid / Reverse Auction
High-value fleet or EV procurement
Multi-stage evaluation
Reverse auction used for price discovery
EVs and buses mostly go through Bid / RA mode.
How Vehicle Specifications Are Evaluated
Government does not buy “brands”, it buys specifications.
Key parameters include:
Engine / Motor type
Fuel / Battery capacity
Emission norms (BS-VI)
Safety & certification standards
Seating, payload & body type
Warranty & AMC terms
“Equivalent model” claims are generally rejected.
Make in India & Local Content Preference
Automobile procurement strongly favors local manufacturing.
| Supplier Class | Impact |
|---|---|
| Class-I Local | Price & bid preference |
| Class-II | Conditional |
| Incorrect declaration | Rejection / Blacklisting risk |
False Make in India claims are treated as serious violations.
OEM Authorization & Dealer Validation
OEM authorization must:
Mention exact model & variant
Cover bid quantity
Remain valid till vehicle delivery
Be verifiable by OEM backend team
Many vehicle bids are rejected due to dealer–OEM mismatch.
Tender Evaluation: How Winners Are Selected
Evaluation follows a strict order:
Technical compliance check
OEM & Make in India verification
Price comparison (L1 among compliant bids)
Reverse auction (if applicable)
Purchase order issuance
Lowest price without compliance never qualifies.
