Zepto to deliver Škoda cars in 10 mins? Zepto’s CEO Aadit Palicha clarifies

Several media reports surfaced on Wednesday suggesting that Zepto, the quick commerce platform, would soon be delivering Škoda cars within minutes. The buzz began as Škoda reopened bookings for its popular and budget-friendly SUV, Kylaq, which had seen such overwhelming demand that reservations had to be halted just 10 days after launch.

With a focus on the “Make in India” initiative, Škoda Kylaq is engineered and manufactured locally, adhering to the Škoda’s standards of safety, comfort, quality and global design. Now, the carmaker has unveiled a new TV commercial, fueling speculation about an unexpected collaboration with Zepto. The ad hints at the possibility of having a Škoda car delivered to your doorstep through the quick delivery platform. However, how much truth does this hold?

"No, we're not delivering cars in 10 minutes…yet," Aadit Palicha, co-founder & CEO of Zepto took to LinkedIn to address these speculations.

While instant delivery services have become the norm for groceries, electronics, and apparel, this partnership, effective from February 8, will allow customers to book test drives of Škoda cars via Zepto’s platform.

“We love the energy, but let’s clear things up: you won’t be ordering a Škoda Kylaq from the Zepto app (as tempting as that sounds),” Palicha clarified. However, he left the door open for future possibilities, adding, “But… who knows what the future holds?”

Quick commerce has really taken India by storm and is seen to be dipping its fingers in multiple honey pots. Industry giants like BigBasket and Blinkit have already incorporated pharmacy and wellness services, and companies continue to push the boundaries of what can be delivered within minutes.

For instance, Blinkit began offering Apple iPhones for instant delivery with the launch of the iPhone 14 and continued the service for subsequent models. When the iPhone 16 series went on sale in India in September 2024, quick commerce players like BigBasket, Blinkit, Zepto, and Flipkart Minutes all introduced 10-minute deliveries for the new series. More recently, Blinkit has extended its offering to include Nokia and Xiaomi smartphones, promising delivery within 10 minutes across Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.

These developments underline a crucial shift in quick commerce, where “higher order frequency and convenience factor” become key drivers of adoption. “The success will rely on successful navigation of regulatory hurdles (storage, handling, ensuring proper checks) and availability of wider categories of medicines. Monitor medicines being offered via the dark store model or collaborations. Further, gaining consumer trust will be key to rapid adoption,” says Karan Taurani, research analyst, Elara Capital.

Škoda has expanded its already strong local supplier base by another 10% to improve turnaround time and reduce cost of ownership and with this latest marketing move, the company is further strengthening its foothold in the Indian market, leveraging the quick commerce boom to boost visibility and customer engagement.