Kathmandu— Nepal's first domestically designed and manufactured electric scooter, the Yatri P2, was unveiled in Kathmandu on Monday by Sipradi Electric Vehicles and Yatri Design Studio. Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle presented the vehicle, representing a joint venture aimed at boosting local production and demonstrating Nepal’s capacity for innovation in the automotive sector. The P2 features a powerful mid-drive motor, multiple battery options offering ranges up to 157 km, and advanced safety and connectivity features, with pre-bookings set to begin this week.

Performance And Specifications

The Yatri P2 is equipped with a mid-drive PMSM motor capable of delivering up to 10 kW of power and 315 Nm of wheel torque, allowing for a top speed of 90 km/h. The scooter will be available with three lithium-ion battery options: 3.0 kWh (90 km range), 3.7 kWh (112 km range), and 5.2 kWh (157 km range). An optional 1.8 kWh range extender can boost the total range to up to 207 km. The P2 supports DC fast charging, reaching 80% capacity in approximately 41 minutes, or full charge via a 1350W onboard AC charger in under 2.5 hours.

Government Support For Local Manufacturing

Finance Minister Dr. Wagle lauded the Yatri P2 as “a world-class” product and emphasized Nepal’s potential to compete with international brands through domestic design and manufacturing. He stated that the scooter, designed in Budhanilakantha and manufactured in Gajuri, serves as proof that progress is possible within Nepal. Dr. Wagle assured producers of government support for ‘make in Nepal’ initiatives, urging them to prioritize quality and global competitiveness. He previously visited Yatri's research facility and pledged support for promoting domestically produced electric scooters.

Partnership And Future Plans

The collaboration between Sipradi Trading and Yatri Design Studio was highlighted as a key factor in bringing the P2 to market. Rajan Babu Shrestha, CEO of Sipradi Trading, emphasized that the launch represents more than just a new scooter; it showcases a product entirely created in Nepal. He noted that their decades of experience understanding automotive needs combined with Yatri’s engineering expertise resulted in the P2. Asim Pandey, Founder and CEO of Yatri Design Studio, described the P2 as the culmination of nine years of Nepali engineering, specifically tailored to the country's unique riding conditions. Both companies expressed intentions to introduce additional products and expand into international markets.

Advanced Features And Safety

The Yatri P2 incorporates a range of advanced features including a 7-inch TFT instrument display with 4G connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto integration. Safety features include fall detection with automatic power shut-off and emergency location sharing, an anti-theft system with location tracking and remote immobilisation, hill hold assist, and three ride modes. The scooter also offers 30 litres of storage space.

Pre-bookings for the Yatri P2 will begin at the NADA Auto Show in Kathmandu this week, with a price announcement expected during its commercial launch in September. Deliveries are scheduled to commence in mid-October 2026 for the higher capacity variants, followed by the base model in December 2026.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.