KATHMANDU, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Nepal's import of electric four-wheelers grew significantly to 11,466 during the first 11 months of the current fiscal year ending in mid-July, the Department of Customs announced on Friday.
It is the first time for the South Asian country to import more than 10,000 electric vehicles in one year, according to the department data.
In the previous 2022-23 fiscal year, Nepal shipped in a total of 4,050 electric cars, and the figure was 1,805 in 2021-22.
"Looking into the import figures, we can say that electric vehicles are increasingly becoming popular in Nepal," said Kailash Babu Gelal, managing director of G. Motors Pvt. Ltd.
He told Xinhua that the majority of four-wheelers imported by Nepal are electric vehicles, as they are becoming affordable due to lower taxes and operating costs than the fuel-powered vehicles.
China was the biggest supplier with 7,931 electric vehicles shipped to Nepal during the first 11 months of 2023-24.
"Chinese electric vehicles are considered among the world's best, and they also have better battery and motor quality," said Gelal. ■