KATHMANDU: Continental Trading Pvt. Ltd., the official distributor of Kia vehicles in Nepal, has brought the EV5 electric SUV into the country. The company imported two units in November. These units are here for evaluation. The distributor says sales will begin only in 2026.
The EV5 was earlier expected during the NAIMA Mobility Expo. Its entry was delayed. The model arriving in Nepal is the China-made version.
According to the distributor, the final price and launch plan are still undecided. The company expects to start sales in the first quarter of 2026 after completing all evaluations.
In China, the EV5 starts at around USD 20,000. It is positioned as an affordable electric SUV there. However, Nepal’s customs data shows the EV5 entered Nepal at USD 41,933. This is more than double the base price in China.
With this high import value, the final price in Nepal is expected to cross Rs 10 million. This could be one reason why the company has not announced an official sales plan yet.
The EV5 is inspired by the larger EV9. It is based on the Hyundai Motor Group’s EV platform. The SUV gets a closed-off front grille, hidden door handles, star-map LED lights, and 19-inch alloy wheels.
The rear gets signature LED taillamps and glossy black cladding. The SUV measures 4,615 mm in length, 1,875 mm in width, and 1,715 mm in height. It has a 2,750 mm wheelbase.
Inside, it features two 12.3-inch connected screens. There is also a 5-inch digital climate control panel with physical buttons.
The EV5 in Nepal comes with a 160 kW motor. With higher motor output, the tax bracket also increases. This further pushes the expected selling price above Rs 10 million.
The EV5 brings modern styling and a strong feature set. But its high import value could limit its demand. For now, Kia is studying the market response. More details will come closer to the 2026 launch window.
