Nepal-Made Electric Scooter ‘Yatri P2’ Unveiled, Finance Minister Urges Global Competitiveness
Dragon Media Correspondent
Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle has said that the Nepal-designed and manufactured electric scooter ‘Yatri P2’ should focus strongly on quality to compete in the global market. He added that the government is prepared to support the development and promotion of domestically produced electric vehicles.
During a visit to the Sipradi Yatri factory in Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu, where the Yatri P2 is being produced, Wagle described the development of a vehicle in Nepal by Nepali engineers and designers as a positive achievement.
He encouraged the company to expand domestic design and manufacturing as far as possible while also preparing itself to enter international markets. He also urged the company to clearly identify the policy support it requires from the government.
During the visit, Yatri electric bike founder and Chief Executive Officer Asim Pandey briefed the Finance Minister on the scooter’s design, safety testing, components and production process.
According to Sipradi Trading Chief Executive Officer Rajan Babu Shrestha, the Yatri P2 has already undergone testing in difficult hilly and mountainous terrain. The company is preparing to make the scooter available for public sale in the near future.
The company claims that the use of a DC charger in a two-wheeled electric vehicle represents the first such initiative in Nepal. Shrestha said concessional policies on the import of batteries and essential raw materials would be important in making Nepal-made vehicles more competitive in international markets.
Engineer Asim Pandey founded the startup Yatri Motorcycles in 2017. The company is now operating as Sipradi Yatri following a commercial partnership with Sipradi Trading.
According to the company, the Yatri P2, developed through its own design and engineering, has also undergone quality testing by a relevant vehicle-testing agency in India.
As Nepal’s electric vehicle market continues to expand, the Yatri P2 is being viewed as a significant new initiative in the country’s efforts to develop domestic capabilities in vehicle design, engineering and manufacturing.
