KATHMANDU: MAW Vriddhi, the authorized distributor of Foton Motor in Nepal, has achieved a landmark milestone in the country’s journey toward sustainable urban infrastructure, the delivery of 11 units of the customized Foton TM1 electric waste collection vehicle to Lalitpur Metropolitan City.

This marks the first-ever deployment of electric vehicles for municipal waste management in Nepal, a historic step that redefines what commercial EVs can accomplish beyond roads and cargo.

This delivery is more than a fleet handover, it is a demonstration of Foton’s capability to engineer purpose-built solutions for real-world civic needs. The TM1 units supplied to Lalitpur Metropolitan are not standard, off-the-shelf vehicles. Each unit has been customized to meet the specific operational demands of urban waste collection, reflecting MAW Vriddhi’s growing expertise in tailoring Foton’s commercial EV platform to institutional requirements across Nepal.

The impact of the Foton TM1 is already visible in day-to-day operations. Lalitpur Metropolitan City has been able to streamline its waste collection workforce, moving from a three-person crew to a leaner, more efficient two-person team, a direct result of the vehicle’s thoughtful ergonomic and operational design. The deployment also aligns with the city’s commitment to gender-inclusive employment, creating meaningful opportunities for women in municipal waste management operations.

“Our city runs on a simple rule: no fossil fuels. That means no petrol, no diesel – PERIOD. EV Waste collection vehicles were our biggest concern. Would we find an EV that could do the job? Foton answered that question. And honestly, we’re over the moon.” said Mayor Chiribabu Maharjan, the Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City.

Anil Baral, CEO of MAW Vridhi Commercial vehicle pvt. Ltd expressed “ When we first heard the vision for EV-based waste collection, we were inspired – and seeing it come to life is truly meaningful for us. We are honoured to contribute to Lalitpur Metropolitan City’s legacy as one of Nepal’s cleanest cities and deeply appreciate the trust placed in us. At Foton, this is just the beginning. We remain committed to supporting a cleaner, greener Nepal – through advanced electric vehicles and a growing EV charging infrastructure network nationwide.”

With MAW Vriddhi’s network of 14+ sales and service touchpoints and over 171 CCS2 DC fast- charging stations nationwide, Foton’s EV ecosystem is fully equipped to support fleet-scale operations across Nepal’s municipalities and local governments.

This deployment in Lalitpur sets a powerful precedent, one that demonstrates electric commercial vehicles are not a future aspiration, but a present reality capable of powering Nepal’s essential civic services today.

Municipalities, institutions, and fleet operators interested in exploring Foton’s commercial EV solutions may contact MAW Vriddhi at 9802375421 | 9802340671 or visit the nearest Foton showroom.