KATHMANDU, Aug 16: Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle has said the government will support efforts to promote electric scooters designed and manufactured in Nepal.
Wagle made the remarks during a visit to the factory of Sipradi Yatri in Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu, where he observed the manufacturing process of the Yatri P2, described by the company as Nepal’s first locally designed and manufactured electric scooter.
“Your hard work is commendable. It is encouraging to see the Yatri P2 being designed and manufactured in Nepal,” Wagle said. “I hope you will compete successfully at the global level in terms of quality. Move forward. The government is with you.”
Calling the domestic design and manufacture of an electric two-wheeler a historic step for Nepal, Wagle urged the company to focus on taking the product to international markets and competing with established global brands.
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“Apple designs its products in California and manufactures them in China. As far as possible, try to do everything in Nepal. Tell us what support you need from the government, but also think about what else can be done to take the product to global markets,” he said. “I respect the efforts made by Nepali engineers and designers.”
Wagle also wished the locally made scooter success against international brands. He said he hoped the scooter would eventually be seen running even on American roads and that Nepalis living abroad would embrace the brand and actively seek out the product.
During the visit, Ashim Pandey, founder and CEO of Yatri electric motorcycles, briefed the minister on the P2’s design, safety testing, components and the experience gained from testing the scooter.
Rajun Babu Shrestha, chief executive officer of Sipradi Trading, said designing and manufacturing an electric scooter in Nepal marked a significant achievement for the company.
He said producing a two-wheeler entirely in Nepal, with several distinctive features that are claimed to be unique globally, represented another major milestone.
According to Shrestha, the scooter has undergone successful testing in Nepal’s difficult and challenging hill and mountainous terrain. The company is preparing to launch it for public sale soon.
Company officials also claimed that manufacturing an electric two-wheeler in Nepal equipped with a DC charger is a world first.
Shrestha urged the government to introduce preferential policies on raw materials used to manufacture electric vehicle batteries and scooter components so that Nepali products can compete effectively in the market.
The scooter, which the company plans to unveil within a few days, is currently being kept under wraps.
Pandey, who returned to Nepal after completing engineering studies in the Netherlands, founded the startup Yatri Motorcycle in 2017 with the aim of developing electric motorcycles.
The company has since evolved into Sipradi Yatri through a business partnership with Sipradi Trading, one of Nepal’s leading automobile distributors. The company has now developed the Yatri P2 electric scooter using its own design and engineering, with quality testing conducted by an Indian agency responsible for testing two-wheeler vehicles.
