Kathmandu, December 6
As people fear travelling on public transport vehicles amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the country imported nearly 82,000 motorbikes and scooters in the past four months.
Although this number is not bigger than that of the past year, traders say reaching close to the previous mark when most of the businesses have been hit due to the pandemic is an achievement per se.
The Department of Customs says Nepal imported 81,994 two-wheelers from the beginning of the current fiscal year (July 16) until November 15. Nepal had imported 96,000 bikes and scooters in the same months last year.
Rishabh Shrestha, the digital marketing officer for HH Bajaj, a distributor of Bajaj two-wheelers, says traders are happy with the sales they made after the government lifted the lockdown in July.
Likewise, Shital Dahal, media coordinator for Nepal General Marketing, the authorised distributor for Hero, says, “Given the pandemic situation, the footfall of customers at our showrooms is very good.”
Whereas those travelling on public vehicles have switched to two-wheelers as much as possible, those having a car or two-wheeler already have also purchased an extra bike or scooter so that they could be used when the government imposes odd-even rationing, according to the traders.
