Dissatisfied with the Thimphu district court’s judgment, taxi drivers who purchased electric vehicles from Kuenphen Motors have taken their case to the High Court. They submitted their appeal on Thursday. In December last year, the Thimphu District Court dismissed the compensation claim by the vehicle owners against Kuenphen Motors for delivering vehicles different to the ones advertised.
The owners of the electric vehicles told BBS that they accept their failure to complain within a reasonable time as stated in the district court’s verdict. However, they said that Kuenphen Motors should be held liable for selling vehicles which contradicted the specifications initially assured to the drivers.
The taxi drivers claim that the electric cars did not provide the promised mileage range as per the catalog and that the vehicle versions of the cars delivered were different to the ones advertised to them and had different features.
The issue surfaced after around 90 taxi drivers filed a complaint with the Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.
Following the complaint, the taxi drivers requested either for replacement of the car or a refund equivalent to the cost of components that were missing. The Authority dismissed some of the claims and asked Kuenphen Motors to pay Nu 30,000 each to the aggrieved taxi drivers.
The drivers said the compensation amount was too less considering the amount they paid for the vehicle and filed a case with the district court.
As per the judgment passed by the Thimphu District Court, Kuenphen Motors did not have to even pay the 30,000 ngultrum compensation.
According to the judgment, the court recognised that UNDP, PMO and experts from Kuenphen Motors had given awareness programmes on the impact it might have on the car’s battery due to the country’s geographical and weather conditions which can affect the vehicle’s mileage.
Samten Dolkar
Edited by Tshering Zam
