Preparations are gathering pace for the 18th edition of the NADA Auto Show 2026, which will open at Kathmandu’s Bhrikutimandap Exhibition Hall on Tuesday as the festive season approaches.

The four-day event will showcase the latest technologies entering the automobile market, while several new two- and four-wheeler brands will also be launched.

One of the main attractions will be the “Yatri P2”, an electric scooter developed and assembled in Nepal by Sipradi Yatri. The G1 humanoid robot and Go-2 quadruped robot will also be on display.

Vehicles assembled in Nepal will receive special prominence at this year’s show, according to the organisers. Booths will also feature tyres, lubricants, batteries, spare parts and other products manufactured in Nepal to support the country’s growing assembly and automotive industries.

“Our main theme is ‘From Industry to Employment’,” said Surendra Kumar Upreti, president of the NADA Automobiles Association of Nepal. “We are also celebrating the association’s 50th anniversary with the show.”

Upreti said NADA, which was established 50 years ago, has sought to introduce something new at every edition of the auto show. He noted the dramatic transformation of Nepal’s automobile industry over the past five decades, from a time when vehicles had to be transported into Kathmandu to the present, when vehicles are beginning to be produced and assembled domestically.

“With a 10-year government plan, Nepal could move towards self-reliance by manufacturing vehicles domestically,” Upreti said. “That would also help retain some of the foreign currency currently spent on vehicle imports.”

The show will feature 200 stalls representing 150 brands. The organisers say the larger brand presence this year has inspired the theme “More Brands, More Launches, More Options”. Automobile companies are expected to offer special discounts to attract buyers.

Upreti said the NADA Auto Show has traditionally marked the start of the festive shopping season, with many companies extending show offers through the major festivals, while some launch separate promotional schemes during the festive period.

Banks and financial institutions with stalls at the event will offer financing facilities to prospective buyers.

Titled “HP Lubricants Presents 18th NADA Auto Show 2026”, the event will feature 23 passenger vehicle brands, 25 four-wheeler brands, 17 light commercial vehicle brands and 13 two-wheeler brands.

Another 72 companies will showcase tyres, batteries, engine oils, helmets, bearings, gaskets, filters, diagnostic equipment, garage tools, GPS and telematics systems, accessories and electric vehicle charging equipment.

Thirteen banks, financial institutions and insurance companies will offer vehicle loans and insurance services, including specialised financing schemes for electric vehicles, according to the organisers.

Upreti said the development of a domestic automobile industry could also reduce the need for Nepalis to seek jobs abroad.

“More than 1.5 million people are currently employed in the sector, directly and indirectly,” he said. “With supportive government policies, the industry could eventually provide direct employment to more than 1.5 million people.”

He said the government needs to adopt a long-term policy to develop the automobile sector.

According to Upreti, more than 60 percent of the vehicles sold throughout the year are booked during the NADA Auto Show. The event will run until August 30, allowing consumers to book vehicles of their choice at promotional prices.

Upreti also criticised the lack of a large exhibition venue dedicated to automobile shows in Nepal, saying the constraints make it difficult to organise the event on a larger scale.

“Bank interest rates are currently at a historic low, while people earning up to Rs1 million have been given tax relief. That money will also enter the market,” he said. “As a result, we expect the automobile market to become more active.”

The show will have an International Business Pavilion for foreign participants and a separate “Made in Nepal/Made for Nepal” pavilion for locally produced and assembled vehicles and products.

Nepal has imported 63,280 electric vehicles so far, according to NADA. Around 2,000 charging stations are currently operating across the country through joint efforts by private importers and the Nepal Electricity Authority.

More than 80 percent of electric vehicles imported into Nepal come from China, NADA said.

Workers carry out setup work and painting at the Bhrikutimandap Exhibition Hall in Kathmandu as preparations are underway for the 18th edition of the NADA Auto Show 2026, scheduled to open on Tuesday. The four-day automotive event will highlight domestic assembly, electric vehicles, and new market launches ahead of the festive season.