Imports of automobiles through the Birgunj customs checkpoint have surged sharply in the first three months of the current fiscal year, reflecting increased demand in Nepal’s vehicle market and expanding cross-border trade with India. According to Birgunj Customs Office, vehicles worth Rs 8.70 billion entered Nepal during this period, generating Rs 7.77 billion in customs revenue.

Chief Customs Administrator Bishnu Prasad Gyawali said both the value of imported vehicles and the revenue collection have increased compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. In the first three months of the previous fiscal year, vehicles worth Rs 6.19 billion had been imported, generating Rs 5.95 billion in revenue.

A large portion of this year’s imports is dominated by unassembled motorcycles, which continue to be a major revenue source for the government. In the three-month period, 24,939 units of unassembled motorcycles worth Rs 3.41 billion were imported, yielding Rs 3.28 billion in revenue. During the same period last year, 19,489 units worth Rs 2.49 billion were imported, generating Rs 2.49 billion in revenue.

Imports of jeeps, cars, and vans showed mixed trends. This fiscal year, 330 units of such vehicles worth Rs 620 million were imported through Birgunj, contributing Rs 1.75 billion in revenue. However, in the same period last year, 432 units worth Rs 760 million had been imported, producing Rs 1.96 billion in revenue. The revenue difference reflects changing consumer preferences and tax structures in the automobile sector.

Meanwhile, imports of electric vehicles (EVs) have risen sharply, indicating Nepal’s gradual shift toward cleaner mobility solutions. Birgunj Customs recorded 229 electric jeeps, cars, and vans worth Rs 680 million imported in the first three months of the current fiscal year. These imports generated Rs 457.2 million in revenue. In the same period last year, only 97 EV units worth Rs 144.9 million were imported, with revenue from electric vehicles at just Rs 91.1 million.

Economists say the rise in EV imports is influenced by changing consumer preferences, government tax incentives in previous years, and the growing charging infrastructure in major cities. At the same time, the higher import volume of motorcycles and conventional vehicles highlights Nepal’s increasing urban mobility demand and expanding auto loan market.

Business analysts note that Birgunj remains Nepal’s largest trade gateway with India, playing a significant role in the country’s automobile market, customs revenue, cross-border trade, business logistics, and supply chain movement. The sustained rise in revenue collection from vehicle imports is being closely watched by policymakers as Nepal navigates economic recovery and shifting consumer behavior.