Special priority will be given to vehicles assembled in Nepal at NADA Auto Show: Surendrakumar Upareti

28 Shrawan, Kathmandu.

NADA Automobiles Association of Nepal (NADA) has announced that the ‘NADA Auto Show 2026’, to be held at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu from Bhadra 9 to 14, will not be limited to just a vehicle sales exhibition, but will be presented as a platform to showcase the overall ecosystem of the automobile sector.

According to NADA President Surendrakumar Upareti, this year’s exhibition will bring various aspects related to the automobile sector under one roof, including vehicles, spare parts, lubricants, tires, insurance, banking and financial services, after-sales service, and new technologies.

‘NADA is not just an exhibition organized for trade,’ Upareti said, ‘Our main objective is to show consumers new innovations, technological developments, and the direction the automobile sector will take in the coming days.’

According to him, there will be more than 200 stalls at this year’s show. Various brands are preparing to launch new models and products. The organizers have stated that detailed information on which brand will launch new products at what time will be released through a separate press conference.

This time, special priority will be given to Nepali products and vehicles assembled in Nepal at the NADA Auto Show. Upareti stated that vehicles manufactured and assembled in Nepal will be displayed at the exhibition.

According to him, the fully manufactured Nepali Yatri motorcycle is also being prepared for launch at the show. He said that local products have been prioritized at the exhibition with the aim of encouraging the investment made by Nepali industries in vehicle manufacturing and assembly.

Stating that the potential for vehicle assembly and manufacturing is expanding in Nepal, Upareti said that if such industries are provided with long-term policy and stability, even multinational companies can be attracted to Nepal.

Recently, the share of electric vehicles (EVs) in Nepal’s automobile market has been increasing. Upareti said that consumer attraction towards EVs is growing compared to petrol and diesel-based vehicles.

However, he stated that the inability to build adequate charging infrastructure alongside the increasing number of EVs is a major challenge. He said that although more than two thousand charging stations have been built across Nepal, the current infrastructure is not sufficient for the growing number of EVs.

He informed that EV importers are installing fast chargers at various locations as needed, and Nepal Electricity Authority is also expanding charging infrastructure in various parts of the country and along highways.

‘It’s not that charging stations haven’t been built, but they are not sufficient compared to the current need,’ he said, ‘As the number of EVs increases, charging infrastructure must also gradually expand.’ According to Upareti, even though EVs are the major trend in the current market, since automobile technology is constantly changing, efforts have been made to include new technologies that may emerge in the next five to ten years in the NADA Auto Show.

Automobile Market on the Path to Improvement

President Upareti stated that Nepal’s automobile market is gradually on the path to improvement. He said that signs of improvement have started to appear in the market recently. He stated that the provisions of the recently introduced government budget and monetary policy have made vehicle import and business somewhat easier.

He said that the recent budget has addressed some issues related to taxes, imports, and financial facilities that the automobile sector has been raising for a long time. He emphasized the need to facilitate loan disbursement from banks and financial institutions for large vehicles. Additionally, he demanded an an increase in the ‘Loan to Value’ (LTV) ratio for vehicle purchases.

‘If the LTV ratio is slightly increased to facilitate vehicle purchase and provisions are made for interest rate concessions for a certain period, it can make the market more dynamic,’ he said. According to him, this will make it easier for consumers who wish to purchase vehicles, and also allow funds in the banking system to be mobilized in the automobile sector.

Long-term Policy Needed for Assembly Industry

Highlighting the increasing investment in the vehicle assembly industry in Nepal, Upareti stated that government policy will be crucial in providing long-term stability to this sector. He said that the share of two-wheeler assembly and local production in Nepal is significant.

He said that if clear and stable policies are provided to such industries, further investment can be attracted in the coming days. According to him, if an environment for production and assembly is created in Nepal, even multinational companies can be attracted to invest in Nepal.

Auto Show: A Large Economic Ecosystem

Upareti stated that the NADA Auto Show is a program connected not only to the automobile sector but also to the overall economy. He said that many sectors, including after-sales service, insurance, banking and financial services, media, transportation, hotel, and food businesses, are directly or indirectly linked to it along with vehicle sales.

‘The Auto Show is not just a place to sell vehicles; the entire ecosystem associated with it is visible in one place,’ he said.

According to him, the automobile sector has been making significant contributions to government revenue collection and the country’s Gross Domestic Product. Therefore, he stated that the automobile sector requires policy stability and facilitation.

Emphasis on Road Safety and Skill Development

Upareti stated that NADA prioritizes social responsibility alongside business. He informed that road safety awareness programs are being conducted in collaboration with traffic police.

He said that efforts are being made to make drivers aware of issues such as not using unnecessary horns, not making risky overtakes, and operating vehicles safely. Similarly, he stated that skill-based training is being conducted in collaboration with various organizations to produce skilled manpower required in the automobile sector. Efforts are also being made to connect trained manpower with employment, he added.

Upareti has urged consumers to participate in the NADA Auto Show, which will be held at Bhrikutimandap from Bhadra 9 to 14. He said that since various brands, new technologies, and automobile-related services will be available under one roof, consumers should make purchasing decisions only after understanding their needs, vehicle capacity, and after-sales service.

For more: NADA Prioritizes Assembled Vehicles