KATHMANDU — Yatri’s new electric scooter, designed and prototyped in Nepal, is now undergoing road testing across the country. The company has taken the prototype to different regions to study performance on varied terrain.
Yatri Motorcycles began the scooter project in partnership with Sipradi. Before this, Yatri had already designed, produced, and sold two motorcycles built in Nepal.
About a year and a half ago, Sipradi and the startup announced a plan to produce electric motorcycles and scooters in Nepal. The two companies held detailed talks and signed a cooperation agreement. Yatri then started work on both the motorcycle and scooter designs.
During this period, Yatri completed the scooter design, built the prototype, and moved into the testing phase. The company plans to run a single scooter for 50,000 kilometers. The test report will guide the decision on mass production.
Yatri founder and CEO Ashim Pandey said the design phase is complete and durability testing is underway.
“We are testing one scooter for 50,000 kilometers, from the plains to the hills,” he said. “After the tests, we will move toward mass production.”
Pandey said the company aims to bring the Nepal‑made electric scooter to market by Baisakh 2083.
Yatri has also finished the design of its production plant and begun construction. The motorcycle and scooter plant will be located in Gajuri, Dhading.
Yatri first revealed its Nepal‑designed electric motorcycle in Poush 2076. A young engineering team built the bike, which continued to operate despite several challenges. During this time, Yatri announced its partnership with Sipradi.
Sipradi saw strong potential in Yatri’s design and production work and moved to support local manufacturing of electric scooters and motorcycles. Yatri Motorcycles was founded in 2017 and launched its first model, Project One, soon after.
Sipradi, owned by Siddhartha Rana, agreed to invest in electric motorcycle production with Yatri. This gave new momentum to the plans developed by young Nepali engineers.
As a result, the Nepal‑made electric scooter has now reached the testing stage. Yatri’s electric motorcycles are built to compete at a global level. If Sipradi brings them to market at a competitive price, the company expects strong sales. Yatri plans to introduce the scooter first, based on market demand.
Yatri says the scooter is designed for Nepal’s geography and daily needs. Its price will play a key role in shaping the market.
Sipradi Trading currently imports and sells Tata Motors vehicles and also deals in spare parts, lubricants, and assured‑quality products.
About Yatri Motorcycles
A team of six engineers began work in 2017 and produced Yatri’s first electric motorcycle within two years. Founder and CEO Ashim Pandey designed the chassis for Project One.
The team included mechanical engineers, an industrial designer, an embedded systems engineer, a software developer, and an electrical and electronics engineer. Although the original team members have since moved on, they helped establish the company and its early products.
Despite being a startup, Yatri built its own research and development team. The company designed many of its spare parts in Nepal and worked with manufacturers in the United States, China, India, and Europe.
The motorcycle used carbon fiber, making it strong, light, and visually distinct. While Yatri excelled in design and vision, it struggled to scale production. The partnership with Sipradi now brings that vision closer to reality.
