Himal Press 
This combo photo shows (from left) Bajaj Chetak 3501, Ather Rizta, NIU NQi-GT, Gogoro Crossover and Yadea M6 electric scooters.
KATHMANDU: Electric two-wheeler sales have surged in the current fiscal year, as rising fuel prices and lower operating costs push consumers towards electric scooters.
Customs data show that imports of electric scooters and motorcycles more than doubled during the first 10 months of 2025/26 compared to previous years. According to the Department of Customs, Nepal imported 18,776 electric motorcycles and scooters worth Rs 1.85 billion during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year ending mid-May. The government collected Rs 662.18 million in customs revenue from the imports. During the first 10 months of the previous fiscal year, 9,573 units worth Rs 901.69 million were imported into the country.
The pace of imports accelerated sharply in recent months. Of the total imports, 12,521 units had entered the country by mid-February. More than 6,000 additional units were imported over the following three months, largely due to a steep rise in petrol prices amid tensions in West Asia.
Petrol prices in Nepal have increased by about 30% over the past three months.
In the entire 2024/25, Nepal had imported only 11,318 electric two-wheelers worth Rs 1.06 billion. Customs revenue collected from those imports stood at Rs 376.41 million.
Imports have shown steady growth over the past several years. Nepal had imported 7,747 electric two-wheelers worth Rs 830.44 million in fiscal year 2023/24, while imports stood at 7,155 units worth Rs 932.60 million in 2022/23.
Consumers say the significantly lower operating cost of electric scooters compared to petrol-powered models is the main reason behind the growing shift. “At the moment, the amount spent on petrol for a month is almost enough to pay the instalment for an electric scooter,” said a 40-year-old office worker preparing to switch to an electric scooter. “Attractive financing schemes offered by dealers, expansion of charging infrastructure and the arrival of scooters with longer battery range have also encouraged consumers to embrace electric mobility.”
Although more than two dozen electric scooter brands are currently available in Nepal, around a dozen are performing strongly in sales. Most of the popular brands are from China, including Yadea, NIU, Super Soco, Segway, TailG, Gyro and Luyuan. Indian brands such as Ather, TVS iQube and Chetak have also started gaining popularity in Nepal despite being relatively new entrants.
