KATHMANDU: Walk through Kathmandu today and you’ll notice something different about the cars around you. More and more of them carry Chinese badges and five brands in particular are pulling ahead of the pack.
Import figures covering January 2025 through mid-February 2026 tell a clear story about which Chinese automakers are winning over Nepali buyers.
What ties all five brands together is a formula that clearly resonates with Nepali buyers, competitive prices, modern looks, and technology that feels current without feeling out of reach. Chinese automakers took their time building credibility here, but based on these numbers, that credibility is now well and truly established.
BYD sits comfortably at the top. The global electric vehicle giant, represented here by Cimex Inc., imported 3,604 units during the period, a number that dwarfs every other Chinese brand in the market. BYD has held the title of Nepal’s best-selling car brand for two consecutive years now, and its vehicles are hard to miss on Nepali roads.
The Atto series has been the crowd favorite, with the Dolphin carving out a loyal following in the hatchback space. Prices range from around Rs 2.9 million to nearly Rs 20 million, giving buyers plenty of room to choose from.
MG Motor follows in second place. The brand British by origin, Chinese by ownership first made waves in Nepal with the ZS EV and never really looked back. Paramount Motors brought in 1,188 units over the same period, with the MG S5 emerging as the standout model.
The Cyberster, MG4, Comet, and IM6 round out a lineup that keeps growing alongside an increasingly solid dealer and service network.
Dongfeng Nammi has made a surprisingly fast impression. Distributed by MAW Vriddhi, the brand entered Nepal with the Nammi Box, a compact EV that caught buyers’ attention with its sharp design and honest pricing.
A total of 975 units were imported, the bulk of them being the Nammi Box, although the recently launched Nammi Vigo SUV has already added 327 units to that count. For a relatively new name, that’s a confident start.
Omoda, Jaecoo, and iCaur share the fourth spot under the banner of SPG Automobiles, part of the Sarada Group. Together, the three brands brought in 874 units 350 from Omoda, 322 from Jaecoo, and 202 from iCaur, which only began arriving in December 2025. All three focus on the SUV space, and with their network expanding, they look set to grow further.
Deepal rounds out the top five. Also distributed by MAW Vriddhi, Deepal imported 727 units during the period. The S05 has been its most popular model, supported by the S07, E07, and L07. The brand has been ramping up its marketing lately, and its service network is steadily filling out across the country.
