Kathmandu – As the documentation process for the import of BYD’s new electric vehicle, the Sealion 7, remains under review, Cimex Inc.—the official distributor of BYD in Nepal—has reportedly sought intervention from the Chinese Embassy to help expedite the process.

The Department of Transport Management has requested additional paperwork from Cimex, including clarification regarding the vehicle's motor power and the presence of a SIM card embedded within its mechanical system. 

The department is also awaiting a response from a Chinese testing agency to verify the specifications submitted by the importer.

According to Nepal’s regulations, import permission must be granted within 15 days of application. 

Cimex submitted its request only seven days ago. 

However, regulatory monitoring has heightened since the Office of the Auditor General (OAG), in its 62nd annual report, pointed out discrepancies in the declared motor power of electric vehicles (EVs). 

This prompted customs and transport authorities to exercise greater caution, particularly at the Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani checkpoints.

Amid this procedural tightening, Yamuna Shrestha—managing director of Cimex and Chair of the Revenue Committee at the NADA Automobiles Association of Nepal—formally approached the Chinese Embassy. 

Using NADA’s letterhead, she addressed the Economic and Commercial Section of the embassy, claiming that authorities were placing unnecessary restrictions on the import of new energy vehicles from China, despite all required documents having been submitted.

The initial draft of the letter reportedly did not mention the OAG’s findings, which recommended the recovery of around Rs 3.77 billion in revenue—Rs 2.74 billion via Rasuwagadhi and Rs 1.03 billion via Tatopani—due to suspected underreporting of EV motor power.

 This was later included in a revised version.

The act of appealing to a foreign diplomatic mission while the domestic review process is still ongoing has drawn sharp criticism from the automotive industry. 

Some stakeholders questioned the appropriateness of bypassing internal mechanisms and involving diplomatic channels over a private business matter.

'If every company starts appealing to embassies during document verification for each vehicle model, what will become of the country’s regulatory system and automotive governance?' an auto industry entrepreneur remarked.

Despite not having received full import clearance, Cimex had unveiled the Sealion 7 publicly on Friday. 

Reports indicate that five units were brought into Nepal earlier this week through a temporary arrangement, which further attracted regulatory scrutiny.

On Thursday, Shrestha convened an urgent meeting of the NADA Revenue Committee to discuss the matter. 

While members agreed to communicate with domestic agencies such as the Ministry of Finance, the Customs Department, and the Department of Transport Management, her proposal to involve the Chinese Embassy was reportedly not endorsed by other committee members.

Critics have also pointed out that Shrestha remained silent when other companies—including LRR, which imported the Geely Galaxy S5, and Mahindra, with its BE.6 and XUV 9e models—were similarly asked to provide additional documentation. 

This inconsistency has raised questions about her dual role, both as a NADA committee head and as an executive of a company with direct interests in the matter.

'There are clear legal provisions that allow regulators to verify import documents. While authorities are expected to create an enabling environment for business, prematurely dragging foreign diplomatic entities into routine procedures is highly inappropriate,' said one committee member. 

'Shrestha’s actions suggest she was acting more as Cimex’s managing director than as NADA’s revenue chair—portraying a standard regulatory process as an undue obstruction. That’s troubling.'

Observers warn that such diplomatic appeals during active document reviews set a dangerous precedent.