The High Court in a judgment, today, asked Kuenphen Motors, a vehicle dealership, to pay Nu 15,000 to five electric vehicle taxi drivers of the MG ZS model. Kuenphen Motors has to pay the amount in a month. In another judgment regarding drivers of the Neta EV model, the High Court upheld the Thimphu District Court’s judgment and found Kuenphen Motors not liable to pay any compensation.
Last year, around 55 electric vehicle taxi drivers filed a complaint with the Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority or CCAA against Kuenphen Motors for mileage and missing feature issues concerning the MG ZS and Neta electric vehicle models sold by the dealership.
The CCAA asked Kuenphen Motors to pay the aggrieved drivers Nu 30,000 each. Dissatisfied with the outcome, the drivers took Kuenphen Motors to the Thimphu District Court.
In a reversal of the CCAA’s decision, the district court found Kuenphen Motors not liable to pay the Nu 30,000 for both EV cars.
The district court judgment cited drivers not complaining within a reasonable time frame, and that relevant authorities and experts from Kuenphen Motors made drivers aware of the possible impact of Bhutan’s geographical and weather conditions on the car’s battery performance. The case then reached the High Court.
The High Court, today, partially reversed the Thimphu District Court’s judgment and asked Kuenphen Motors to pay Nu 15,000 to five MG ZS model drivers.
As for Neta model drivers, where mileage range was the issue, apart from upholding the district court’s judgment, the 35 drivers have been asked to pay an appeal cost of Nu 3,750 to Kuenphen Motors.
All parties have 10 working days to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Samten Dolkar
Edited by Sherub Dorji
