Cimex Inc. Pvt. Ltd, the authorized Distributor of BYD Auto Industry Co. Ltd., in Nepal, has signed an agreement for 50 units of BYD e6 Electric SUVs with Self Drive Nepal Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Spark Group for an emission-free rental fleet operation. This is the single largest order for electric vehicle fleet operation in South Asia, says Cimex BYD. In an official handover ceremony on April 20, Cimex Inc. and Self Drive have together signed a framework agreement making Self Drive the exclusive rental partner for BYD electric vehicles.

A huge milestone for both BYD & Spark Group with the introduction of a luxury electric vehicle fleet operation in Nepal. Self Drive offers low-cost, zero-emission, chauffeured cars to corporate and private clients in Kathmandu. The fleet operation has commenced with five pure-electric, emissions-free BYD e6 (first-gen) models with the addition of other new vehicles in the coming days. The BYD e6 car has a proven and reliable Battery-electric technology with BYD’s UL Certified Iron-Phosphate (or “FE”) batteries, proven in over 100 million miles of taxi and 14 million miles of bus passenger transport across the globe.

A BYD State-of-Art Service Center will also be set up at Spark Group’s facility in Guheshwori, Katmandu. The modern workshop facility is scheduled to be operational within May 2022 with highly trained professionals and modern equipment with the aim to strengthen BYD’s position in Nepal. The service center will offer an unmatched and unparalleled service experience like never before. As part of the workshop, a 40 kW AC Fast Charger has already been installed at the facility in Guheshwori, Kathmandu.

BYD e6 was ranked as the best-selling pure electric car in China in 2016 and won the gold medal for ‘Best Quality Product’ at Havana International Fair 2015. BYD e6 is a long-range, pure-electric front-wheel-drive utility vehicle and a crossover SUV with superior interior space (over 88.3 cu-ft) and six airbags. It has a 90-kW electric motor connected to an 80-kWh lithium iron phosphate battery that gives up to 400 km of driving on a single charge.

Commenting on the agreement with Spark, Sahil Shrestha, the CEO of Cimex Inc. Pvt. Ltd., said, “We have been looking at various options to promote Electric Mobility with BYD’s proven emissions-free technology in Nepal. We are convinced that in Self Drive we have found the right partner to do this – we share many of the same objectives of providing safe, reliable and efficient green transport in cities.”

Mr. Roshan Pokharel, CEO of Self Drive, said, “We think that BYD’s e6 model will meet all our requirements to offer passenger comfort, good range and rapid charging. We share BYD’s desire to provide practical, zero-emission solutions and look forward to a long-term partnership.”