Kathmandu-Documents submitted by KarKab Gear Pvt Ltd reveal that the company employed questionable methods to import Jaguar electric vehicles. Instead of obtaining authorization from the manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover, KarKab obtained an agency license from the Department of Commerce using documents claiming official dealership from a company unrelated to JLR.

The agency registration indicates that KarKab acquired dealership rights from Quadriga, a company registered in Belgium. However, customs documents list the exporter as Quadriga Car Rental NV, highlighting inconsistencies in company identification.

The Jaguar I-Pace is manufactured in Austria, and customs records confirm that the vehicle was imported from Austria. KarKab’s clarification to customs claimed that the vehicle was exported from the United Kingdom.

Typically, export vehicles are not registered in any country before shipment. Registration converts a vehicle into a reconditioned unit and incurs registration costs, including road tax in many countries.

Vehicles carrying number plates are treated as registered. Importing such vehicles into Nepal effectively means importing second-hand units.

KarKab imported six I-Pace vehicles to Chobhar customs, with one cleared on January 13. The decision to use Chobhar instead of Birgunj customs has raised concerns.

While clearance is permitted through any customs point, the choice of Chobhar, coupled with documentation issues, has intensified suspicion.

Another importer, KAIROS International Pvt Ltd, has been importing Jaguar Land Rover vehicles through Birgunj customs. KarKab’s avoidance of Birgunj suggests potential attempts to bypass scrutiny related to the company’s authorized dealership claims.

The vehicle, registered in the UK, cleared Chobhar’s red channel, which is reserved for high-risk or suspicious imports.

Customs categorizes imports into green, yellow, and red channels, with green channel goods cleared based on minimal risk documentation, yellow channel goods requiring both document and physical verification, and red channel goods undergoing thorough inspection and strict scrutiny.

Despite arriving with a UK registration plate, the vehicle was cleared without strong verification, raising compliance concerns.

Import records reveal that KarKab declared the vehicle’s value at £34,900, which appears unusually low. Additionally, the company imported a model that was discontinued in 2024. These factors necessitate a detailed investigation by customs authorities.

KarKab claims that the vehicles belong to the final production batch and carried export plates because they were produced in Austria and shipped from the UK. However, the attached plates appear to be standard UK registration plates, suggesting prior registration.