Beyond 53 vehicle brands, the 18th NADA Auto Show puts the spotlight on the components, finance, insurance and infrastructure that shape the real cost of vehicle ownership.
The Industry Behind the Vehicle Gets Its Own Floor
Kathmandu - Nepal's automotive market is preparing for another major showcase, but the 18th NADA Auto Show 2026 will offer more than a display of new vehicles.
The HP Lubricants Presents 18th NADA Auto Show 2026, scheduled to open at Bhrikutimandap on 25 August, will cover approximately 300,000 square feet and feature more than 200 stalls.
A total of 53 vehicle brands will participate, comprising 23 passenger vehicle brands, 17 light commercial vehicle brands and 13 two-wheeler brands.
Yet vehicles will account for only part of the exhibition.
Around 70 companies will showcase products and services that cannot be driven off the exhibition floor but play a critical role throughout a vehicle's ownership cycle. These include tyres, batteries, lubricants, helmets, bearings, gaskets, filters, diagnostic equipment, professional workshop tools, GPS and telematics systems, automotive accessories and EV charging equipment.
The financial side of vehicle ownership will also have a dedicated presence, with around 10 banks, financial institutions and insurance companies offering auto-loan and motor-insurance products, including financing options tailored to electric vehicles.
For consumers, the auto show therefore extends beyond the question of which vehicle to buy. It also brings together the products and services that determine how much it costs to operate, maintain, finance and insure that vehicle over the years.
A vehicle may be selected in a showroom within weeks, but ownership continues for years through regular servicing, replacement parts, insurance renewals, financing and other maintenance requirements. The exhibition's focus on the broader automotive ecosystem gives consumers an opportunity to explore those areas alongside the vehicles themselves.
The exhibition has been organised into distinct zones covering four-wheelers, two-wheelers, financial institutions, auto components and garage equipment, allowing visitors to compare vehicles while also exploring the businesses and services that support ownership.
The participating vehicle brands also represent a broad range of international automotive markets. European engineering from Škoda, Malaysia's Proton, and Chinese manufacturers such as Chery, including its Omoda and Jaecoo brands, will be represented alongside GWM. Japanese, Indian, Korean, Czech, Malaysian and Chinese automotive brands will therefore be showcased under one roof.
An International Business Pavilion will provide space for foreign exhibitors, while the Made in Nepal / Made for Nepal Pavilion will showcase domestically manufactured and assembled products.
“People assume an auto show is a room full of vehicles. Most of our floor is the industry that keeps those vehicles running once the excitement is over. That industry deserves to be seen.”
— Surendra Kumar Upreti, President, NADA
The growing scale of the NADA Auto Show reflects the expansion of Nepal's automotive ecosystem. What might once have been a relatively small vehicle exhibition has evolved into a platform covering vehicles, components, technology, finance, insurance, workshop equipment and other supporting industries.
With 300,000 square feet of exhibition space, the 18th NADA Auto Show is therefore not simply a showcase of what Nepal's automotive market sells. It is also a display of the wider industry that keeps those vehicles moving long after they leave the showroom.
