NADA Auto Show 2026 Opens: The Debuts That Mattered on Day One
Expo Coverage
Barely a week after NAIMA, Nepal's other big auto show is here, and it is a milestone one. The 18th NADA Auto Show, NADA's Golden Jubilee edition, opened today at Bhrikutimandap. We were on the floor for day one. Here are the launches and debuts worth knowing, with confirmed prices where they exist.
The 18th NADA Auto Show 2026 was inaugurated this morning by Vice President Ramsahaya Prasad Yadav, marking 50 years of the Automobiles Association of Nepal. It runs six days, to August 30, with more than 200 stalls and 53 vehicle brands across four-wheelers, commercial vehicles and two-wheelers. Coming right after NAIMA, it keeps this year's EV surge rolling into the festive season.
The priced headline: Deepal Nevo Q05
The standout launch with real numbers is the Deepal Nevo Q05, which MAW Vriddhi launched at the show. It is Changan's premium Deepal Nevo brand entering Nepal, a compact electric SUV pitched, as the stand says, "a class above" on comfort and tech. There is a genuine NADA discount running:
The Q05 runs a 51.9 kWh CATL LFP battery with a 120 kW motor, a claimed 405 km WLTP range and up to 162 kW DC fast charging. Its calling card is space: a 2,735 mm wheelbase, the longest in its class, plus a panoramic glass roof, ventilated front seats and a 540-litre boot. Safety and tech include six airbags, a 540-degree camera and Level 2 ADAS, backed by a 5-year or 150,000 km warranty. MAW Vriddhi also signed cricketer Paras Khadka as brand ambassador.
The most anticipated: Tata Sierra.ev
The car that drew the crowds was the Tata Sierra.ev, unveiled by Sipradi Trading in a confetti-filled reveal. This is the return of an iconic nameplate as a modern electric SUV, with a full-width LED light bar, flush door handles and Tata's Acti.ev platform. In India it comes with 63 kWh and 75 kWh battery options and a claimed range up to 665 km, with rear-wheel drive making 175 kW and an all-wheel-drive version making 225 kW.
The catch: Sipradi has not yet confirmed which battery, drivetrain or price Nepal gets. So treat those India figures as a reference, not the Nepal spec, and watch for the official Nepal pricing to follow. On looks and interest alone, though, it was the star of day one.
Unwrapped: the Jaecoo J5 Pro
The car hiding under the black cloth on the Omoda and Jaecoo stand turned out to be the Jaecoo J5 Pro, and SPG Automobiles put it on sale right at the show. It is a new, more affordable take on the J5, and it gets there the way several brands are doing right now: a smaller battery for a lower price.
That is a Rs 9 lakh saving, with the introductory price good for the first 100 buyers. The J5 Pro swaps the J5's 58 kWh pack for a 50.7 kWh battery, with a claimed 405 km range, a 155 kW front-wheel-drive motor and 288 Nm. It stays generously equipped: an 8.88-inch driver display, a 13.2-inch touchscreen, a panoramic glass roof, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 50W wireless charging, dual-zone climate, ventilated front seats, a powered tailgate and a 360-degree camera. Safety covers six airbags and a full Level 2 ADAS suite. It has 185 mm of ground clearance and a full-size spare, and SPG is backing it with an extended warranty of up to 11 years or 240,000 km.
The showstopper: MHERO
Impossible to miss was the MHERO, a hulking, military-styled electric off-roader with an angular body, a roof-mounted light bar and chunky all-terrain tyres. It is the rugged end of the new-energy spectrum, and it drew a steady crowd on the floor. Its Nepal price, distributor and final specification were not confirmed at the show, so we are treating it as a headline display for now rather than a priced launch. If it reaches showrooms, it will be one of the most distinctive EVs in the country.
Proton e.MAS 7 gets a new motor
Proton, through Jagdamba Motors, had its larger electric SUV, the e.MAS 7, on the stand. Pricing is unchanged from before, at Rs 49.99 lakh for the Prime and Rs 59.99 lakh for the Premium. The notable change this time is under the skin: a new 100 kW motor, replacing the 160 kW unit it launched with.
Beyond the motor change, the e.MAS 7 remains a well-equipped C-segment SUV with a 15.4-inch touchscreen, a 360-degree camera, six airbags and V2L. Confirm the updated range and performance figures for the new 100 kW motor with Jagdamba Motors before booking, since those will differ from the earlier version.
BYD brings the refreshed Atto range
BYD, through Cimex, had its full 2026 Atto lineup on display, the same refreshed range it launched at NAIMA. That means the new-generation Atto 1 from Rs 30.75 lakh, the Atto 2 with its new entry Essential variant at Rs 45.95 lakh, and the redesigned 2026 Atto 3 at Rs 62.90 lakh in Advanced trim. No new BYD launch here, but a strong, complete stand for buyers cross-shopping the segment.
On the petrol side: Skoda
Not everything at NADA is electric, and Skoda's stand made a strong case for petrol. The headline is a brand-new Kodiaq, the big, upscale three-row SUV, up for display at Rs 2.19 crore. Next to it sat a newly facelifted Kushaq, Skoda's 1.5-litre turbo compact SUV including the sporty Monte Carlo, the Slavia sedan, and the compact, sub-4-metre Kylaq, which stands out for offering one of the cheapest automatics you can buy right now. Skoda leans on build quality and strong safety ratings, and its cars carry solid crash scores. Prices beyond the Kodiaq were not posted on the floor, so confirm those with the distributor.
Who else is here
Beyond the debuts above, the passenger-vehicle halls feature a deep bench: Riddara, Aion, JMEV, Avatr, Geely, Skywell, GWM, Leapmotor, MG, Jetour, BAW and Suzuki, alongside a large commercial-vehicle and two-wheeler presence. With the show running to August 30, expect more launches and confirmed prices to land through the week.
The honest read
Two big shows in one month tells you how hard brands are pushing before the festive season, and one pattern is now unmistakable: the cheaper way in is a smaller battery. The Jaecoo J5 Pro undercutting the J5 by Rs 9 lakh on a smaller pack is just the latest example, and it is good for buyers as long as you check the real range you end up with. Day one's clear winner on value is the Deepal Nevo Q05, a well-equipped, spacious electric SUV with a genuine launch discount, while the Sierra.ev is the emotional draw, hold your excitement until Sipradi confirms the Nepal price and battery. As always, get the on-road price after tax and any discount, and ask about the service network before you book.
Comparing the Nevo Q05, the Jaecoo J5 Pro or the Atto range? Check full specs and current prices for every EV in Nepal on NepalRoads.
Reported first-hand from the NADA Auto Show 2026 opening day, August 25, and cross-checked with launch reporting. Prices are as announced by distributors; figures marked with an asterisk and Deepal Nevo Q05 NADA offers are introductory or show-only prices. The Tata Sierra.ev Nepal price and variant, the MHERO details, and the updated figures for the Proton e.MAS 7's new motor were not confirmed at the time of writing. Always confirm the on-road price, variant and warranty with the distributor before booking.
