EV Imports Surge Via Birgunj Border

Electric vehicle (EV) imports through the Birgunj border point Nepal’s primary gateway for vehicular trade have witnessed an exponential surge in the current fiscal year 2025/26 (2082/83 BS). According to data released by the Birgunj Customs Office, the import of mid-range electric cars, jeeps, and two-wheelers has increased 1.5 times compared to the same period last fiscal year.

Driven by shifting consumer preferences, this import boom has triggered an even larger windfall for the state coffers, with revenue collection from EV customs duties multiplying approximately 2.5 times.

Mid-Range Cars and Two-Wheelers Lead the Surge

Customs data comparing the first ten months (up to the month of Baishakh) of the current fiscal year against the same period in fiscal year 2024/25 (2081/82 BS) reveals a drastic shift toward specific EV segments.

The most dramatic spike was observed in mid-range passenger vehicles. Imports of electric cars, jeeps, and vans with motor capacities between 51 kW and 100 kW skyrocketed to 657 units this year, up from a mere 6 units during the same period last year.

Electric two-wheelers also saw nearly twofold growth. Imports of electric motorcycles and scooters jumped to 8,867 units, compared to 4,834 units recorded in the previous fiscal year.

Clean energy three-wheelers followed a similar upward trajectory:

• Assembled electric three-wheelers (autos): Increased to 1,654 units, up from 1,133 units last year.
• Unassembled (CKD) electric three-wheelers: Tripled to 2,040 units, up from 640 units in the prior period.

High-End and Entry-Level Segments See Sharp Decline

While mid-range and commercial EVs flourished, both the entry-level and luxury high-performance segments faced steep declines.

Imports of small electric cars, jeeps, and vans with capacities up to 50 kW plummeted from 141 units last year to just 18 units this year. Similarly, high-powered luxury EVs ranging from 201 kW to 300 kW nearly vanished from the import ledger, dropping from 15 units last year to just 2 units in the current fiscal year.

Revenue Collections Skyrocket

In total, the Birgunj checkpoint cleared 15,271 electric vehicles of various categories during the review period of the current fiscal year, bringing in NPR 2.02 billion in customs revenue. This marks a massive leap from the previous fiscal year’s corresponding period, where 9,042 electric vehicles were imported, yielding NPR 814.7 million in revenue.

Hari Gautam, President of the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, attributes this massive market transition to practical economic realities. According to Gautam, the combination of volatile, rising fossil fuel prices and the rapid expansion of EV charging infrastructure across Nepal has made electric mobility highly practical and increasingly attractive to the general public.