KATHMANDU: Yatri, the country’s first electric motorcycle startup, has received
a temporary number plate for its latest prototype, the P2.
This is the first time that a locally produced motorcycle has been officially registered with a temporary plate.
The Department of Transport Management (DoTM) issued the registration number “Bagmati Province 02001 A 0001” to the Yatri P2.
Yatri has called the achievement a big step forward for innovation in Nepal.
Until recently, Nepal’s transport regulations only allowed registration of imported vehicles. It had no provision for registering vehicles produced locally. The government made an amendment to the Transport Management Procedure Directive in April 2023 to fill this legal void.
As per the new rule, locally assembled or produced vehicles can be registered using VAT bills and excise clearance forms, instead of the customs documents needed for imports.
Yatri’s first model, the P1, became the first locally made motorcycle to get a number plate in May 2023. The P2’s temporary registration builds on that progress, allowing new models and prototypes to be tested legally on public roads.
Experts say this will support more research and development in Nepal’s EV industry. It also simplifies the registration process for local manufacturers and may attract more investors to the sector, they added.
While this achievement is a positive sign for Nepal’s innovation in electric mobility, experts say there is a need for careful planning around policy, financing and consumer education to avoid the risks that come with rapid growth.
