KATHMANDU: Electric vehicle prices in Nepal are expected to increase in the coming months.
The main reasons are the rising U.S. dollar and higher lithium-ion battery costs.
More than 10,000 EVs were imported from China before the last budget. Since then, new shipments have slowed. Importers said only a few fresh batches have entered the market.
The dollar exchange rate has increased steadily. This has made vehicle imports more expensive. Dealers are now preparing to adjust showroom prices for upcoming stocks.
Battery costs are also rising. Chinese manufacturers have increased the prices of battery separators by up to 30%. These parts are essential for lithium-ion batteries.
Since the battery is the most expensive part of an EV, any global price rise directly affects vehicle prices.
With both the dollar and battery costs moving up, EV prices in Nepal are likely to go higher soon. Importers said the final impact will depend on future shipments and global market conditions.
For now, the market is preparing for a phase of higher costs.
