Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepal imported nearly 250,000 units of two-wheelers over the first 11 months of the current fiscal year 2025/26.
According to the latest foreign trade data from the Department of Customs, a total of 249,665 motorcycles and scooters worth Rs 32.19 billion were brought into the country during the review period.
While traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles continue to dominate the market, the share of electric two-wheelers in total imports is growing gradually. Of the total imports, petrol-powered variants accounted for 227,941 units worth Rs 29.90 billion. These imports generated Rs 28.93 billion in revenue for the government. Likewise, electric two-wheeler imports reached 21,724 units, valued at Rs 2.29 billion. Electric two-wheeler imports brought in Rs 811.23 million for the state coffers.
Local assembly on the rise
A closer look at the traditional engine market reveals a clear shift toward domestic assembly. The vast majority of ICE imports, 206,247 units, arrived in completely knocked down (CDK) form, compared to just 21,694 completely built units (CBUs). India is the primary trading partner for these vehicles, accounting for imports worth Rs 29.57 billion in the review period, compared to a modest Rs 319.97 million from China.
In the dominant unassembled category, entry-level commuter bikes up to 125cc led the pack, with 124,158 units, all imported from India. The mid-range 125cc-200cc segment followed with 48,125 units from India and 72 from China, while the 200cc-250cc bracket saw 15,076 units from India and 257 from China. Likewise, Nepal imported 17,876 unassembled units in the 251cc-400cc segment from India, alongside 111 from China.
India also dominated the fully assembled segment. In the below-125cc bracket, Nepal imported 14,403 units from India and 39 from China. Similarly, in the 125cc-200cc segment, 6,337 units came from India, 692 from China and 36 from Indonesia. Likewise, 173 units in the 200cc-250cc segment were imported from India and four from China, while the 401cc-500cc premium market saw 448 units from India and 124 from China.
Nepal also imported three high-capacity motorcycles in the 500–800cc segment during the review period—two from Japan and one from Switzerland. These motorcycles may have been imported by diplomatic missions, as no revenue was collected on them. Additionally, two motorcycles with engine capacities above 800cc entered the country—one from China and one from India. No duty was levied on the motorcycle imported from India.
China leads the electric segment by volume, India by value
By pure numbers, China emerged as the top supplier of electric two-wheelers to Nepal in the review period, with 14,554 units. India followed with 6,695 units, followed by Indonesia, which supplied 465 units.
However, India leads the market by volume. Electric two-wheeler imports from India were valued at Rs 1.33 billion. In contrast, the larger volume of Chinese imports was valued at Rs 922.14 million. Indonesian electric imports accounted for the remaining Rs 42.51 million.
