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The 18th NADA Auto Show is set to bring together 53 vehicle brands, around 200 exhibition stalls and a range of new automotive technologies when the event opens at Bhrikutimandap from August 25 to 30.

The NADA Automobiles Association of Nepal (NADA) said the annual automobile exhibition will feature a broad representation of passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles, two-wheelers and automotive components, alongside emerging technologies.

According to NADA Auto Show Chairman Anup Baral, 53 vehicle brands will participate in this year’s exhibition.

Of these, 23 brands will showcase passenger cars, 17 brands will display light commercial vehicles and 13 brands will participate with two-wheelers.

Beyond vehicles, more than 70 stalls will feature automotive parts, lubricants, tyres, garage equipment, banks and financial institutions, insurance companies and other products and services linked to the automobile ecosystem.

The exhibition will also feature robotics technology, including the GI Humanoid Robot and GO2 Quadruped Robot, adding a technology-focused element to the automobile show.

NADA aims to showcase Nepal’s emerging automotive industry

NADA President Surendra Upreti said this year’s exhibition will go beyond showcasing international automobile brands and new technologies, arguing that Nepal’s automobile sector is gradually developing domestic production and assembly capabilities.

According to Upreti, vehicles and a growing range of automobile-related products are now being manufactured or assembled in Nepal, creating the foundation for a potentially larger domestic automobile industry.

The exhibition will therefore place particular emphasis on locally manufactured and assembled vehicles and automotive components.

Products including locally manufactured passenger vehicles, assembled scooters and motorcycles, tyres, lubricants, batteries, spare parts and helmets will be among the key attractions at the show.

“NADA Auto Show is not merely a gathering of international brands; it is also a living reflection of Nepal’s own industrial potential,” Upreti said. “We will proudly showcase passenger vehicles manufactured in Nepal, assembled scooters and motorcycles, tyres, lubricants, batteries, spare parts and helmets, among other products.”

He said the development of domestic manufacturing and assembly demonstrated that Nepal’s automobile sector was gradually moving beyond its traditional dependence on imports.

From import market to potential production base

Upreti said Nepal should no longer be viewed solely as an automobile-importing market, arguing that the country could develop into a production base in the future if the right industrial and policy environment is created.

“We are committed to informing and demonstrating that Nepal is no longer limited to imports and that automobile production within Nepal can also become possible in the coming days,” he said.

The statement comes at a time when Nepal’s automobile industry is seeing increased interest in domestic assembly, electric mobility, component manufacturing and localisation.

The NADA Auto Show is expected to provide manufacturers, assemblers, importers, component suppliers, financial institutions and consumers with a common platform to assess the direction of the sector.

EV technology and sustainable mobility in focus

Electric vehicles (EVs), sustainable mobility and new automotive technologies are expected to remain major themes of the exhibition.

Upreti said the 2026 edition would bring together the latest developments in EV technology and globally introduced products under one roof.

“This year’s NADA Auto Show will be a grand platform showcasing the rapid transformation taking place in Nepal’s automobile sector, particularly modern electric vehicle technology, sustainable mobility and the latest global products under one roof,” he said.

The increased presence of EV brands is expected to make the exhibition an important platform for consumers seeking to compare new-generation vehicles, technologies, specifications and pricing.

Expected to revive a sluggish automobile market

NADA expects the exhibition to help stimulate Nepal’s relatively sluggish automobile market.

According to Upreti, the event could increase consumer interest, generate business activity and contribute to broader economic activity by bringing vehicle brands, financial institutions, insurers, component suppliers and consumers together.

Automobile sales have significant linkages with banking, insurance, spare parts, servicing, logistics and other businesses. Increased vehicle transactions can therefore have a wider impact across the economy.

The exhibition is also expected to provide manufacturers and distributors with an opportunity to introduce new models and technologies to the Nepali market.

Golden Jubilee adds significance to 18th edition

The 18th NADA Auto Show is being organised during NADA’s Golden Jubilee year, adding further significance to this year’s event.

Upreti said NADA has played a leading role in the development, expansion and policy reform of Nepal’s automobile sector for the past 50 years.

He described the association’s five-decade journey as an important part of Nepal’s broader economic and industrial history.

According to him, the 18th NADA Auto Show is therefore significant not only for NADA but also for the private sector and the country’s automobile industry as a whole.

With 200 stalls, 53 vehicle brands, more than 70 automotive and financial-service exhibitors, locally produced and assembled products, EV technologies and robotics, this year’s NADA Auto Show is expected to provide a broad snapshot of where Nepal’s automobile industry currently stands—and where it could be heading.