KATHMANDU: NADA Auto Show 2019, Nepal’s biggest automobile exhibition, is underway at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu.

At the 14th edition of the annual exhibition organized by Automobiles Association of Nepal, electric vehicles have taken center stage. More electric vehicles have been featured at the auto show at the time when the government has adopted a strategy to increase the use of electric vehicles.

The exhibition that will run till Saturday has featured four-wheelers of 23 brands, two-wheelers of 19 brands, lubricants of 12 brands, nine brands of tires, five brands of batteries, 14 parts and garage equipment companies and 13 financial institutions.

It is for the first time banks and financial institutions participated in the exhibition.

Cimex Inc, the authorized distributor of BYD for Nepal, launched BYD M3 at the auto show.

M3 is an electric Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) incorporated with NCM battery with a capacity of 50.3kWh, which produces zero emissions and features 400 km driving range on a single charge. It is available in 5-seater and 7-seater variant. The introductory price of M3 (7-seater) is NRs. 49,00,000. and M3 (5-seater) is NRs. 48,00,000.

Manager Sahil Shrestha said that they have provided free charging for one year and free servicing among other facilities at the auto show.

Cimex had earlier introduced BYD e6, which is a long-range, pure-electric utility vehicle with a crossover SUV with superior interior space. The average range of the BYD e6 on a single charge is 400 km.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Chief Minister of Province 3 Dormani Poudel, Chairman of TBI Group Bhaban Bhatta, Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barshaman Pun, Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Kulman Ghising, among others have already bought the vehicles. The price of e6 in the Nepali market is NRS 66, 00,000.

Likewise, Mahindra has launched XUV 300 at the show. It is available in two engines and four variants and features seven airbags, front parking sensor, heated wing mirror, anti-pinch, dual-zone auto climate control among others.

CB400SF, a new motorcycle by Honda priced at Rs 2.27 million has become the center of attraction among two-wheelers lovers. It is powered by 399 cc engine.

Likewise, Sipradi Trading Pvt Ltd, the distributor of Tata Motors in Nepal, launched Tata H5 at the auto show. The price of H5 starts from Nrs.56,55,000. Customers can get details visiting Stall H17 at NADA Auto Show at Brikuti Mandap, Kathmandu.

The H5 is powered by the Kryotec 2.0 Diesel engine, which delivers 140 PS power and 350 Nm of torque with an Advanced Electronically Controlled Variable Geometry Turbocharger (eVGT) for excellent low-end torque and linear power delivery. It is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.