Korala Border Opens: First Batch of Electric Vehicles Arrives in Nepal

With trade through Rasuwa and Tatopani halted by floods and landslides, the Korala border point in Upper Mustang has officially come into operation as an alternative route. Since its opening on Monday, the crossing has seen the first large batch of electric vehicles (EVs) enter Nepal.

According to the Nhechung Customs Office, 151 EVs are currently awaiting customs clearance, most of them belonging to BYD and Omoda & Jaecoo.

Chief District Officer Vishnu Prasad Bhusal stated that more than 100 EVs have already entered Nepal within just eight days of the Korala route being opened. In addition to EVs, seasonal goods such as clothing, electronics, and cosmetics are also being transported, with around 70–80 medium containers already reaching Korala by road.

Originally, these vehicles were scheduled to be imported through Rasuwa or Tatopani, but continued disruption due to floods and landslides forced importers to rely on Korala instead. Although the route is longer and more remote from the capital, the government opened it to ensure the uninterrupted supply of essential goods during the festive season.

While the Korala border has provided much-needed relief for automobile importers ahead of Dashain, challenges such as long distances, higher logistics costs, and limited charging infrastructure persist. Since EVs cannot yet drive directly to showrooms, importers are preparing temporary charging stations along the route.

To support operations, SPG Automobiles, the official distributor of Omoda & Jaecoo in Nepal, has also set up a charging station in Tsarang, Mustang.