Import of two-wheelers increases

Kathmandu, December 11

As many as 108,837 units of two-wheelers were imported in the first four months of this fiscal year 2016-17, thanks to the growing demand of motorcycles and scooters in the domestic market.

As per the vehicle registration figure provided by the Department of Transport Management (DoTM), 141,729 units of vehicles were imported in the first four months of 2016-17 of which 108,837 were two-wheelers. A total of 90,000 units of two-wheelers were imported in Nepal in the first quadrimester of 2015-16.

Automobile dealers said that the market of two-wheelers is growing by up to 30 per cent as motorcycles and scooters have become a necessity for every Nepali to tackle the congested roads.

“Motorcycles and scooters are the easiest means of transportation in Nepal because of which demand is ever increasing,” said Sambhu Dahal, vice president of Nepal Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA), adding, “People are compelled to purchase motorbikes due to lack of effective transport management by the government and unavailability of proper means of mass transportation.”

DoTM data show that out of 2.3 million units of vehicles imported in the country till date, more than 1.5 million units are motorcycles.

DoTM figures show that 1,974 units of buses were imported in the first four months of this fiscal year. Likewise, 743 units of vehicles under minibus/mini-truck category and 9,364 vehicles under car/jeep/van category were imported till mid-November this year.