A flood of electric vehicles (EVs) has overwhelmed Chobhar Dry Port, turning it into a sprawling parking lot of high-end cars. With the national budget set to be announced on May 29, whispers of a possible tax hike on EVs have triggered a race among importers to beat the deadline.
Fearing a sharp increase in customs duties, dealers have rushed to bring in EVs by the hundreds. According to customs officials, over 900 units are now piled up at Chobhar alone. Meanwhile, more than 1,000 additional EVs are reportedly parked at the Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi border points, both major trade routes linking Nepal and China.
Importers are seizing the moment, banking on two unfolding dynamics: reportedly a sharp dip in EV prices in China, and speculation around steep tariffs in the upcoming fiscal policy. The result—a dramatic build up of multi million-rupee electric vehicles, spanning multiple global brands, stuck in limbo as the country awaits the budget.
