Kathmandu: A dispute among three major Nepali business groups has placed the presence of world-renowned Italian motorcycle brand Benelli in Nepal in jeopardy.
The official distributor, KTM International Trading, is jointly backed by Golchha Organization, Sarda Group, and Panchakanya Group. Their internal differences have raised the risk of Benelli losing its distributorship in Nepal.
Benelli’s parent company, QJ Motor, China’s leading premium motorcycle manufacturer, is reportedly dissatisfied with KTM International’s performance. According to sources, QJ Motor is preparing to revoke the distributorship.
QJ Motor, fully owned by the Qianjiang Group, acquired Benelli in 2005. Since 2016, Qianjiang has been part of the Geely Technology Group, which also distributes high-end motorcycles under the QJ Motor brand.
Despite Benelli’s strong reputation in China, the company accuses KTM of failing to deliver in Nepal. Of the more than two dozen Benelli dealerships once active across the country, only about half remain operational. Sales have stagnated, and after-sales service has weakened significantly.
An employee at the company told Clickmandu, “The Chinese parent has already warned that it may withdraw the distributorship. We employees don’t know what will happen to us.”
Sources suggest QJ Motor is seeking a new partner in Nepal’s auto sector with stronger infrastructure and a proven track record of customer satisfaction.
“They see big potential in Nepal, but without a reliable partner, the Chinese side is frustrated,” the employee added.
QJ Motor produces motorcycles ranging from 50cc to 1,200cc, with more than 30 million bikes currently on the roads in over 150 countries.
Benelli, founded in 1911 in Pesaro, Italy, is one of the country’s oldest motorcycle manufacturers. The brand is known worldwide for premium, big-bore, sport, naked, and touring motorcycles.
KTM International began importing Benelli motorcycles to Nepal in 2015, offering models from 125cc to 752cc, priced between Rs 264,000 and Rs 2.5 million. Popular models included TNT 135, TNT 150i, 180S, 302S, TRK 251, 600i, and 752S.
In 2017, Benelli was among the first premium brands to introduce an electric motorcycle in Nepal. The brand entered the market with strong momentum, but in recent years, its presence has sharply declined.
Industry insiders say the lack of new model launches, poor after-sales service, and now internal disputes among the distributor’s partners have nearly halted sales.
Benelli produced its first motorcycle in 1919, and its first in-house engine-powered bike in 1921. The brand is also renowned in professional racing, having won numerous prestigious awards. Many world-class racers have competed with Benelli motorcycles, further strengthening its legacy as a performance brand.
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