NADA Auto Show 2026: Nepal's Next Big EV Showdown

Nepal's Biggest EV Showcase Returns to Bhrikutimandap

The NADA Auto Show 2026 opens August 25 at Bhrikutimandap Exhibition Hall in Kathmandu and runs through August 30, and this year the electric vehicle floor is doing most of the talking. Organized by the NADA Automobiles Association of Nepal, the show arrives at an awkward moment for the industry: prolonged closures at the Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani border points have squeezed import volumes, and the new CIIF-based tax structure from the FY 2026/27 budget has reshuffled EV pricing across nearly every price band. Even so, at least half a dozen electric brands are confirmed to bring new models to the floor, several of them landing in Nepal for the very first time.

If your next EV purchase is riding on what shows up at NADA Auto Show 2026, here is what's actually confirmed, what it's likely to cost, and what to check before you put down a booking amount.

Who's Bringing What to NADA Auto Show 2026

Confirmed four-wheeler exhibitors span both ICE and EV lineups, but the electric debutants are the real draw this year:

• Changan Nevo (Q05): Changan's second EV sub-brand in Nepal (after Deepal), brought in by MAW Vriddhi. The Thailand-built Q05 mid-size SUV is expected to make its formal Nepal debut at the show.
• Avatr: Already on sale through CG Motors and MAW Group, the flagship Avatr 11 is expected to headline the premium end of the EV hall.
• GAC Aion: Entering the Nepali market for the first time, with the Aion V among the models expected on the floor.
• Xpeng: The G6 mid-size SUV, already listed in Nepal, is likely to get show-floor visibility alongside Aion and Avatr.
• Deepal: The S05 compact SUV, MAW Vriddhi's existing volume EV, returns as a reference point against the new entrants.
• Riddara, Dongfeng (Dyun) and Geely round out the Chinese EV contingent, while Tata, Suzuki and Skoda anchor the non-Chinese side of the hall.

Changan Nevo Q05: The One to Watch

Of everything expected at NADA Auto Show 2026, the Nevo Q05 has generated the most pre-show buzz — it's a genuinely new nameplate, not a rebadge of something already on Nepali roads. Here's what's confirmed so far:

Treat the 642 km NEDC figure the way you'd treat any manufacturer claim — as a ceiling, not a promise. Nepal's hill gradients, monsoon-season AC load and Kathmandu Valley stop-start traffic will pull that number down meaningfully; the roughly 350 km real-world estimate is a far more useful planning figure.

How the New CIIF Tax Structure Changes the Math

Every model landing at NADA Auto Show 2026 will be priced under Nepal's revised EV tax regime, introduced in the FY 2026/27 budget. Excise duty on EVs has been replaced with a Clean Infrastructure Investment Fee (CIIF) that scales with the vehicle's CIF (import) value — from 2.5% at the low end to as high as 130% at the top:

• EVs valued up to Rs 20 lakh: 20% customs duty + 2.5% CIIF + 13% VAT + 2.5% road fee — about 40.5% total tax
• EVs valued Rs 30–40 lakh: 20% customs duty + 15% CIIF + 13% VAT + 5% road fee — about 53% total tax

That means the eventual showroom price for a debutant like the Nevo Q05 or Aion V depends heavily on which CIIF band its import value falls into — a detail dealers won't always volunteer upfront. Ask for the CIF value and tax breakdown before comparing a NADA Auto Show quote against a model you've already researched on BijuliSawari.

Buyer's Checklist Before You Head to Bhrikutimandap

• Ask for the tax breakdown, not just the sticker price. Request the CIF value, CIIF band, VAT and road fee separately — two similarly priced EVs can carry very different landed costs once the new slabs are applied.
• Cross-check range claims against Nepal terrain. NEDC and CLTC figures assume flat, temperate conditions; run any model you're considering through BijuliSawari's Range Calculator before trusting a brochure number.
• Confirm charging standard and network compatibility. CCS2 is now near-universal among NADA's EV lineup, but verify the max DC kW your nearest NEA-backed or private fast charger actually supports.
• Weigh after-sales network size for new entrants. Nevo, Aion and Riddara are unproven in Nepal's service ecosystem — ask about battery warranty terms and authorized service center count, not just showroom specs.
• Don't assume the NRB down payment cut applies to you. The central bank's reduced down payment floor currently covers electric buses only; private EV loans still typically require close to 40% down.

The Bigger Picture

NADA Auto Show 2026 lands during a genuinely mixed moment for Nepal's EV market — import numbers are down on border disruptions, taxes are higher on paper, and yet brand count keeps climbing. That combination means more choice on the show floor but a harder pricing puzzle for buyers than in previous years. The brands worth watching are the ones offering real transparency on landed cost and after-sales support, not just the biggest booth.

Before you book a slot at Bhrikutimandap between August 25 and 30, run the numbers. Use BijuliSawari's TCO Dashboard to stack any NADA Auto Show 2026 debutant — Nevo Q05, Aion V, or otherwise — against a comparable ICE vehicle on landed price, charging cost and five-year ownership, so the decision you make on the show floor is one backed by your own math, not a salesperson's pitch.