NAIMA Expo 2026 Day 1: New Cars, Launches and Prices From Opening Day
NAIMA Expo 2026 • Day 1
The NAIMA Nepal Mobility Expo 2026 opened its doors in Kathmandu on August 11, bringing together some of the biggest names in Nepal's automotive industry. For four-wheeler buyers, Day 1 delivered several important launches and debuts, including the Chery Q, Nissan Tekton, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and Toyota Hilux. But the opening day was not only about new cars, as visitors also faced delays during the ticketing and entry process.
The second edition of the NAIMA Nepal Mobility Expo officially opened at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, on August 11, 2026. The six-day event is running until August 16 and features a large lineup of automotive and mobility brands from across Nepal and international markets.
With 53 stalls and 55 participating brands, including 29 four-wheeler brands, the expo has become one of the country's biggest automotive exhibitions. More than 40 new products are being introduced throughout the event.
However, because the launches are spread across six days, it is important to separate what actually happened on Day 1 from vehicles that were simply displayed or launched later in the expo.
Day 1 Four-Wheeler Highlights
Chery Q Makes Its Official Nepal Debut
One of the biggest four-wheeler launches on the opening day was the Chery Q, which officially made its Nepal debut at the NAIMA Nepal Mobility Expo 2026.
The compact electric crossover was introduced in two variants, with the Q Comfort priced at Rs 30.99 lakh and the Q Premium priced at Rs 32.99 lakh during the expo.
The Chery Q is powered by a 41.2 kWh battery and a 90 kW electric motor, with power sent to the rear wheels. Chery claims a range of up to 400 km under the NEDC testing cycle.
The Q also supports DC fast charging of up to 85 kW and features Vehicle-to-Load functionality, giving owners the ability to use the vehicle's battery to power compatible electrical devices.
With its introductory price starting below Rs 31 lakh, the Chery Q immediately positions itself in one of the most competitive parts of Nepal's growing electric-vehicle market.
Nissan Tekton Enters the SUV Market
Nissan also used Day 1 to officially introduce the Nissan Tekton to the Nepali market.
The SUV was launched at Rs 51.29 lakh, putting it directly into the highly competitive mid-size SUV segment.
Unlike the growing number of electric vehicles being showcased at NAIMA, the Tekton gives buyers a conventional petrol-powered alternative.
Its arrival shows that even as electric vehicles continue to gain market share in Nepal, petrol SUVs remain an important part of the country's automotive market.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Makes Its Nepal Debut
Toyota brought one of its most anticipated vehicles to the opening day with the RAV4 Hybrid.
The SUV was introduced at Rs 2.13 crore, positioning it firmly in the premium SUV segment.
The RAV4 Hybrid combines a petrol engine with an electric motor, giving buyers an electrified alternative without moving completely to a battery-electric vehicle.
Its presence at NAIMA is particularly significant as Nepal's automotive market continues to expand beyond the simple EV-versus-petrol debate, with hybrid technology becoming another option for buyers.
Toyota Hilux Also Takes the Spotlight
Toyota also showcased the Hilux as part of its opening-day lineup.
The pickup was introduced at Rs 1.55 crore, continuing Toyota's presence in Nepal's premium pickup segment.
The Hilux remains aimed at buyers who need more than a conventional passenger vehicle, combining everyday usability with the practicality associated with a pickup truck.
Having the Hilux and RAV4 Hybrid at the same exhibition also highlights the range of vehicles Toyota is bringing to the Nepali market, from electrified SUVs to traditional utility vehicles.
Khalti Ticketing Delay Frustrates Visitors on Day 1
The opening day was not completely smooth for visitors attending the expo.
Visitors who had purchased their NAIMA Expo tickets through Khalti faced delays during the entry process at Bhrikutimandap on Day 1.
The delay became a source of frustration for people who had already purchased their tickets and arrived expecting to enter the exhibition according to the advertised schedule.
With the expo officially opening on August 11, visitors had planned their arrival around the published entry information. The delay meant that some attendees had to wait at the venue before being allowed into the exhibition.
The situation was particularly noticeable because Khalti was being used as the ticketing platform for the event. Visitors therefore naturally approached Khalti representatives for clarification regarding their tickets and entry.
It is important to distinguish the ticketing platform from responsibility for the physical entry delay. The fact that tickets were purchased through Khalti does not, on its own, establish that Khalti caused the delay at the gates.
Regardless of where the responsibility lay, the delay was an unfortunate start for visitors who had already made the effort to purchase their tickets in advance.
Hopefully, the entry process becomes smoother for visitors attending the remaining days of the six-day expo.
The Bigger Picture Behind Day 1
While the vehicles were the biggest attraction for visitors, the opening day also highlighted several issues facing Nepal's automotive industry.
The industry is dealing with challenges related to vehicle imports, customs procedures, border disruptions and infrastructure development.
Some vehicles expected to appear at the expo were affected by delays in transportation and border crossings, meaning not every model expected for the event was available on the first day.
This is particularly important for a market like Nepal, where the majority of vehicles are imported and changes in border conditions can directly affect vehicle availability and pricing.
Why Day 1 Matters for Nepal's Four-Wheeler Market
The first day of NAIMA 2026 gives us a clear picture of how competitive Nepal's four-wheeler market has become.
Electric vehicles are continuing to expand into more price segments, with the Chery Q entering below Rs 33 lakh at the expo. At the same time, established manufacturers are continuing to bring petrol, hybrid and diesel-powered vehicles to the market.
This means buyers now have more choices than ever before.
A buyer looking for an affordable EV can consider the Chery Q, while someone looking for a petrol SUV has options such as the Nissan Tekton. At the premium end, Toyota is offering both the RAV4 Hybrid and Hilux.
The increasing number of choices also means buyers need to look beyond the headline price. Battery warranty, charging support, after-sales service, spare-parts availability, financing and actual on-road pricing all remain important factors.
Not Every Vehicle at the Expo Is a Day 1 Launch
One important point for our NAIMA coverage is that a vehicle being displayed at the expo does not automatically make it a Day 1 launch.
Several new models were already visible at the exhibition while waiting for their official launch, pricing or scheduled unveiling on later days.
This includes vehicles such as the ArcFox T1 and several other models that became part of the expo story later in the week.
For that reason, this Day 1 article only counts vehicles that were confirmed as launches or official debuts on August 11. Later launches will be covered separately in their respective daily reports.
The Honest Read
Day 1 of NAIMA Expo 2026 delivered a strong opening for Nepal's four-wheeler market.
The Chery Q is one of the most important launches for buyers looking for an affordable electric crossover, while the Nissan Tekton gives the petrol SUV segment another new option.
Toyota's RAV4 Hybrid and Hilux bring premium hybrid and utility-focused choices to the exhibition, showing that Nepal's automotive market is becoming increasingly diverse in terms of powertrain and vehicle type.
At the same time, the Khalti-related ticketing and entry delay showed that the visitor experience still needs to keep pace with the scale of the event.
But this was only Day 1.
With more launches scheduled throughout the remaining days, the opening day was only the beginning of what is shaping up to be one of Nepal's biggest automotive events of 2026.
Follow our complete NAIMA Nepal Mobility Expo 2026 coverage as we track the four-wheeler launches, prices, offers and major developments day by day.
This article focuses specifically on four-wheeler developments from Day 1 of the NAIMA Nepal Mobility Expo 2026, August 11, 2026. Vehicles displayed at the expo but launched on later days have not been counted as Day 1 launches. Vehicle prices and specifications should be confirmed with the authorised distributor before booking.
