“Geely Has No Official Distributor in Nepal”, Proton & Jagdamba Motors Issue Statement

As Nepal’s EV market rapidly expands, a recent development involving Proton and Geely has stirred both interest and confusion among consumers and industry observers.

Proton, Malaysia’s leading automotive manufacturer, has worked with Jagadamba Motors as its official distributor in Nepal for over half a decade. With the company pushing strongly into electric mobility in the regions surrounding it, Jagadamba Motors seized the opportunity to launch Proton’s very first electric car, the e.MAS 7, in the Nepali market.

The Proton e.MAS 7 was developed in collaboration with its parent company, Geely, and is based on Geely’s EX5 platform.

However, the situation became complicated when LRR Motors recently introduced the Geely EX5 in Nepal. The catch is that the Proton e.MAS 7 and the Geely EX5 are essentially identical in design, performance, and technology.

Basically, both of these vehicles came out of the same manufacturing kitchen. Now, this overlap has raised questions about who holds the official distribution rights.

To clarify matters, Proton International, together with Jagadamba Motors, released a joint statement. 

Edmund Lim Meng Thong, CEO of Proton International, stated, “Geely has not appointed any official or authorized seller of Geely-branded vehicles in Nepal.

Our focus in Nepal through this partnership remains exclusively on the Proton brand and the Proton e.MAS 7.”

In another spectrum, brands like Riddara, Zeekr, and Smart are all linked to Geely, and already have official representation in Nepal through local distributors (Riddara and Smart by CG Motors & Zeekr by Pioneer Moto Corp). However, their presence does not create a conflict of interest. Because, unlike the Geely EX5, these brands operate under their distinct product lines, which makes the current dispute specific only to the unauthorized entry of the EX5.

Furthermore, the statement also shed light on Proton’s long-term plans for Nepal. Jagadamba Motors currently operates three showrooms for the e.MAS 7, and the network is expected to expand to twelve by the end of 2025. These facilities will provide manufacturer-backed after-sales services, including certified technicians, original spare parts, and advanced diagnostic support.

As per company officials, the Geely EX5 sold under LRR Motors cannot uphold official warranty, provide spare parts officially, or offer certified service support, leaving buyers at risk of higher maintenance costs and limited after-sales support.

However, despite this clarification, the introduction of the Geely EX5 through LRR Motors has created uncertainty for prospective buyers.

Clear and timely communication from all parties involved is becoming increasingly important to ensure that consumers can make informed decisions about authorized channels, warranties, and long-term service support.

(Press Release)