KATHMANDU: More than 3,100 electric vehicles (EVs) entered Nepal through the Korala border point in Mustang in Ashoj (mid-September/mid-October) alone, as imports surged following the closure of the Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani border points.
According to the Mustang Customs Office, more than 3,100 EVs were cleared through Korala between Ashoj 1 and 30, 2083 (September 17 to October 16, 2026).
Mustang Customs Office Chief Bidur Chudal said more than 3,100 electric vehicles and over 1,000 containers of goods were cleared during Ashoj . Nearly 2,000 EVs were cleared in the last two weeks of the month alone.
“Imports of Chinese goods through Korala have been increasing after the Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani border points were completely closed,” Chudal told MeroAuto. “More than 3,100 electric vehicles and 1,000 containers of goods were cleared in Ashoj alone.”
During the first three months of the current fiscal year, from Shrawan (July/August) to Ashoj , approximately 4,500 EVs and 1,750 containers of goods entered Nepal through Korala, according to Chudal. Of these, around 100 EVs arrived in Shrawan (July/August), 1,353 in Bhadra (August/September) and more than 3,100 in Ashoj.
With the two major border points used for trade with China closed, businesses have increasingly turned to Korala as an alternative route for importing electric vehicles.
Importers brought in large numbers of EVs targeting the Dashain and Tihar festivals. They also increased imports to deliver vehicles booked by customers during the recent Naima and NADA auto shows.
EV brands entering Nepal through Korala include BYD, Chery, Omoda, Jaecoo, Nammi, Arcfox, Leapmotor, MG, Ora, Haval and Skywell, among others.
Annual revenue target achieved in three months
The sharp rise in imports through Korala has enabled the Mustang Customs Office to meet its annual revenue target within the first three months of the current fiscal year.
The office had set a revenue collection target of Rs 9 billion for the current fiscal year. According to Chief Chudal, total revenue reached Rs 9.17 billion by the end of Ashoj.
He said the revenue was collected from customs clearance of electric vehicles and goods transported in containers during the three-month period.
Following floods and landslides that disrupted both the Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi border points last year, the government brought the Mustang Customs Office into regular operation from Bhadra 31, 2082 (September 16, 2025).
Around 3,000 electric vehicles were imported through Korala last year, while the customs office collected Rs 6.92 billion in revenue.
Poor road conditions delay EV deliveries
Despite bringing large numbers of EVs through Korala, importers are facing difficulties transporting the vehicles to their destinations because of poor road conditions.
Floods and landslides between Ashoj 8 and 12 (September 24–28, 2026) damaged 55 locations along the Kaligandaki Corridor. The road was reopened on Ashoj 23 (October 9, 2026), but muddy surfaces and potholes have continued to create problems for EV transportation.
The distance from Maldhunga in Parbat to Korala is 202 kilometers. However, around 22 kilometers of road in the Myagdi section are in particularly poor condition. Vehicles risk getting stuck in mud and potholes at several points along this stretch.
As a result, more than 1,500 vehicles that have completed customs clearance remain stranded at various locations in Mustang.
Despite the difficult road conditions, importers continue to bring in vehicles to meet customer delivery deadlines. Some EVs have already reached Kathmandu, while many others are still on the way. More than 1,000 EVs have arrived in the past week.
The Kaligandaki Corridor (Beni-Jomsom-Korala) Road Project has been carrying out repairs to facilitate EV transportation. The project has deployed equipment to fill potholes and repair damaged sections as soon as problems arise.
