KATHMANDU: More electric vehicles are now entering Nepal via the Korala border point in Mustang. The shift has come after the Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani border points, which are major entry routes for vehicles from China, were closed. Importers have started using Korala as an alternative route.
A large number of vehicles were booked during the NAIMA Nepal Mobility Expo and NADA Auto Show held in August and September. Importers bringing vehicles from China are now using the Korala route to ensure timely deliveries.
Some vehicles for which letters of credit (LCs) had already been opened for Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani are also being diverted through Korala.
Importers have also started opening new LCs with Korala listed as the customs point. With Dashain and Tihar approaching, companies are relying on the route to bring vehicles into Nepal for festive-season deliveries.
According to Mustang Customs Office Chief Bidur Chudal, EVs are arriving regularly through Korala. A total of 133 EVs arrived at the customs office in just 22 days, with the vehicles currently undergoing customs clearance.
Chudal said more EVs are on the way, although the exact number is not yet known.
“EVs are arriving from China. Since the beginning of Bhadra (mid August-mid September), 133 EVs have arrived and are undergoing clearance. We have also been informed that many more vehicles are on the way,” he said.
The customs office has added more staff to speed up the clearance process. In the first month of the current fiscal year, 100 EVs entered Nepal through Korala. More than 700 EVs were imported through the border before the budget was presented in May 29, 2026.
The government brought the Mustang Customs Office into regular operation from September 16, 2025, after floods and landslides disrupted the Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi routes.
Around 3,000 EVs were imported through Korala last year. The customs office collected around Rs 692 crore in revenue during the period.
Several EV brands are now being imported through the Korala border. These include BYD, Leapmotor, Jaecoo, Omoda, Chery, Nammi and MG.
