NADA President Karan Chaudhary Discusses Vehicle Directive With DoTM

30th July 2025, Kathmandu

A significant discussion was held today concerning the ‘Vehicle Import, Production, and Assembly Directive 2082,’ which the Department of Transport Management is preparing to introduce to regulate the import, production, and assembly of vehicles in Nepal.

NADA President Karan Discusses

A delegation led by Karan Chaudhary, President of NADA Automobiles Association of Nepal (NADA), met with Rajiv Pokharel, Director-General of the Department of Transport Management, to discuss various aspects of this proposed directive.

Key Discussion Points of the Directive

The discussion primarily focused on the following crucial points:

Import of Electric Vehicles: Following the demand from the Nepal Federation of Transport Entrepreneurs, a key topic was the mandatory provision of warranty, guarantee, authorized service centers, and charging stations for the import of electric vehicles. This is considered vital for the long-term usability of electric vehicles and consumer trust.

Embossed Number Plates: Making the installation of embossed number plates mandatory on vehicles also received priority.

Battery Management and Certification: Discussions also covered the long-term management of used batteries and issues related to duplicate certification, documentation, and the use of stamps and logos.

Technical and Tax-Related Issues: Technical and economic aspects were also addressed, including disputes over engine capacity and seating arrangements, recommendations for determining customs duties, and grievances from taxi entrepreneurs that vehicles used as taxis are more expensive than private vehicles.

Mandatory GPS: The discussion also touched upon making GPS systems mandatory in imported vehicles, which is expected to aid in vehicle tracking and security.

NADA’s Role and the Department’s Commitment

NADA President Karan Chaudhary emphasized the need for a point-by-point discussion on every clause of the directive. He committed to holding a detailed discussion within NADA and submitting official suggestions to the department, expressing gratitude for being invited to the discussion.

NADA Vice President Rajan Babu Shrestha pointed out that some clauses in the directive need to be made practical in the Nepalese context, and further discussion is required on several complex issues.

Director-General Rajiv Pokharel clarified that the directive is being introduced because there are currently no clear policies or regulations in Nepal regarding vehicle import, production, and assembly.

He stated that discussions would be held in various phases and assured that the government would act as a complement to businesses. He also stressed the significant role of the private sector in the country’s economic development.

Collaboration and Future Path

Responding positively to NADA President Chaudhary’s proposal to establish a vehicle testing facility in collaboration with the department, Director-General Pokharel stated that they could move forward by collaborating with NADA on three main issues.

He remarked that it was the right discussion at the right time. During the discussion, the department’s Technical Director, Srikant Yadav, provided a detailed overview of the existing regulations concerning vehicle imports in Nepal.

The discussion also saw the presence of NADA Treasurer Milan Babu Malla, Central Working Committee Member Yamuna Shrestha, and Association Secretary Surendra Pradhan.

This meeting has ensured the active participation of stakeholders in the formulation process of the Vehicle Import, Production, and Assembly Directive 2082, which is considered crucial for Nepal’s automotive sector. It remains to be seen how this directive will streamline and bring transparency to the Nepali automobile market in the days to come.

For more: NADA President Karan Discusses