KATHMANDU: The Citroen eC3 has struggled to maintain its initial momentum in Nepal, with imports declining over the past two years. The French brand’s electric hatchback entered the Nepali market in 2023, but demand has weakened despite growing competition and expansion in the country’s EV market.
The India-made electric car is distributed in Nepal by Shangrila Motors. According to customs import data, 114 units of the eC3 were imported in 2023.
Imports increased to 145 units in 2024 but dropped sharply to 57 units in 2025. The downward trend continued in 2026, with only 15 units imported as of October 15.
Shangrila Motors has imported a total of 331 units of the eC3 over the four-year period.
Despite its compact size, practical design and price of around Rs 3.5 million, the electric hatchback has not been able to maintain its early market interest. Its market performance suggests that its pricing and market positioning may not have matched changing customer expectations in Nepal’s increasingly competitive EV segment.
eC3: specifications and features
The eC3 is powered by a 29.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a permanent magnet synchronous motor. The motor produces 57 PS of power and 143 Nm of torque.
According to the company, the electric hatchback offers a range of up to 320 km on a full charge under the MIDC test cycle. Using a DC fast charger, the battery can be charged from 10% to 80% in around 57 minutes.
In terms of dimensions, the eC3 measures 3,981 mm in length, 1,733 mm in width and has a wheelbase of 2,540 mm. It offers 170 mm of ground clearance and 315 liters of boot space.
The Nepal-spec eC3 comes with 15-inch alloy wheels, a rear-view camera, rear wiper and defogger, electrically adjustable ORVMs and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Monthly EMI
The top-spec Shine variant of the eC3 is priced at Rs 3.599 million in Nepal. With a 40% down payment of Rs 1.4396 million, buyers would need to finance the remaining Rs 2.1594 million through a bank loan.
Assuming an annual interest rate of 5% to 5.5% and a loan tenure of seven years, the estimated monthly EMI ranges from Rs 30,521 to Rs 31,031.
