Ampere forays into Nepal EV market: Primus e-scooter to cost more than Maruti Suzuki Alto 800

Greaves Electric Mobility, the electric mobility division of Greaves Cotton, has marked its global entry with the inauguration of its first showroom in Nepal as part of a collaboration with the Kedia Organisation. As part of this partnership, the local business conglomerate will serve as the authorized distributor for Ampere Electric two-wheelers, managing sales, marketing, distribution, and after-sales support in the country.
Ampere has set up its inaugural showroom in Teku, Kathmandu, with plans to establish multiple outlets and dealerships nationwide.The EV maker said that the appeal of electric two-wheelers is heightened by Nepal’s challenging Himalayan terrain and rising fuel costs, positioning the country as a promising market for the electric mobility sector.

In the Nepalese market, Primus, along with the Magnus, will be sold as the flagship offering. The Primus has been priced at Rs 3.75 lakh, ex-showroom, in Nepal while the Magnus will set the customers back by Rs 3.0 lakh, ex-showroom. To put this into perspective, one can purchase a Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 in India for Rs 3.54 lakh, ex-showroom, making the entry-level hatch roughly Rs 20,000 cheaper than the Ampere’s flagship scooter in Nepal.
The Nepal government imposes high taxes on the import of vehicles thus making them as much as 3X costlier as compared to their prices in India. The manufacturer sells the Primus electric scooter for Rs 1.46 lakh in India.
In November 2023, Greaves Electric sold 4,410 units in India, registering a 6 percent growth as compared to the 4,172 units sold in the corresponding month in 2022.
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