KATHMANDU: Electric cars have become popular in Nepal mainly because of their pricing and features. However, some EVs that were once among the most successful models in the country have not received their latest-generation versions in Nepal.
EVs became popular as they started offering more features at lower prices. Features such as ADAS, 360-degree cameras, multiple sensors, large screens, digital instrument clusters and leather seats became available in EVs priced at around Rs 2.5 million.
The BYD Atto 3, BYD Dolphin and Hyundai Kona Electric are among the EVs that gained strong popularity in Nepal. Their newer generations are already available in international markets, but they are still missing from Nepal.
Hyundai Kona electric
The new-generation Hyundai Kona Electric entered international markets towards the end of 2024. The previous-generation Kona Electric was one of the first EVs to become popular among Nepali buyers.
However, the new Kona Electric has not yet arrived in Nepal. Price could be one of the reasons.
EV prices in Nepal have been falling as competition, especially from Chinese brands, continues to grow. Models that were priced at around Rs 4.5 million a year ago are now available for around Rs 4 million.
The new Kona Electric is expected to cost more than the previous model. This could make it difficult to compete in Nepal’s price-sensitive EV market.
BYD Atto 3
The BYD Atto 3 is another EV that became very popular in Nepal. BYD is already selling a new-generation Atto 3 in China.
The new model is larger and comes with a bigger battery and faster charging support. However, it has not yet arrived in Nepal.
The higher price of the new Atto 3 could be a major challenge in the Nepali market. For now, BYD’s authorized distributor Cimex Inc. continues to sell the existing Atto 3 Advanced.
There is no confirmed timeline for the launch of the new-generation Atto 3 in Nepal.
BYD Dolphin
The BYD Dolphin has also been a successful EV in Nepal. BYD has already started selling its new-generation Dolphin in China, but the updated model has not yet entered the Nepali market.
The delay in bringing these new-generation models shows how important pricing has become in Nepal’s EV market. Established models may have a strong customer base, but their newer versions could become expensive when compared with the growing number of affordable Chinese EVs.
Meanwhile, another successful EV, the MG ZS EV, is no longer available in Nepal. Paramount Motors has replaced it with the MG S5 SUV in its lineup.
