NAIMA Nepal Mobility Expo 2026 Wraps Up With a Record 180,000 Visitors

It's over, and it went out with a bang. The NAIMA Nepal Mobility Expo 2026 has officially closed its doors, and the final numbers are staggering: more than 180,000 people walked through the gates over six days. For a second-edition event, that's not just success. That's a genuine phenomenon.

The NAIMA Nepal Mobility Expo 2026, organised by the Nepal Automobile Importers and Manufacturers Association, ran from August 11 to 16 at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, and comfortably blew past every expectation the organisers had set.

The Numbers Tell the Story

NAIMA had penciled in a target of around 150,000 visitors for the whole six-day run. They hit that with a full day to spare, and then kept climbing. Here's how the daily footfall stacked up: roughly 29,000 on the opening day, 26,000 on the second, 22,000 on the third, over 31,000 on the fourth, a massive 42,000-plus on Saturday, and more than 30,000 on the final Sunday.

That Saturday peak of 42,000 in a single day is the eye-opener, especially given that heavy rain lashed Kathmandu through much of the event. Crowds turned up anyway, umbrellas and all. To put the growth in perspective, NAIMA President Ritu Singh Vaidya noted that attendance leapt from around 100,000 at the previous edition to about 180,000 this year. That's an enormous jump in a single cycle.

More Than Just Big Crowds

Footfall is one thing, but the expo delivered on substance too. A total of 55-plus brands participated, spanning two-wheelers, passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles, and an astonishing 53 new models were launched over the six days. From budget hatchbacks to crore-club flagships, the sheer breadth of debuts made this the launchpad of the year for Nepal's auto industry.

And the interest translated into real intent. While final official figures are still pending, organisers estimate that more than 4,000 vehicles were booked during the expo. Auto Show Planning Committee Chairman Gaurav Sarda summed up the mood, saying the event drew more visitors, better inquiries and stronger bookings than anyone had anticipated. Strategy and Membership Affairs Committee Chairman Akash Golchha put it more bluntly, describing the expo in a single word: "superhit."

The EV Story Is the Real Headline

Dig into what actually drew the crowds and one theme dominates: electric vehicles. Visitors weren't just gawking at shiny paint. They were asking sharp, informed questions about battery capacity, motor output, driving range, after-sales service, warranty terms and resale value. That's a market maturing fast.

Most tellingly, the strongest demand clustered in the Rs 30 lakh to Rs 40 lakh price range, exactly where a wave of compact and mid-priced EVs like the Chery Q at Rs 30.99 lakh landed. It signals that Nepal's EV appetite is moving well beyond premium buyers and into genuinely mainstream, budget-conscious territory. Consumers want practical, affordable electric cars with real range and modern features, and the market is racing to deliver.

A Platform, Not Just a Showroom

NAIMA was keen to frame the expo as more than a sales floor. Alongside the vehicle displays, the event hosted a series of Mobility Dialogues and learning sessions, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, academics and experts to talk technology, skills, entrepreneurship, investment and the future of transport in Nepal. Executive Director Raj Kumar Dulal said visitor satisfaction was the true measure of the expo's success.

The second edition was built around promoting sustainable, green and technology-driven mobility, and the strong showing from both domestic and multinational manufacturers suggests that message is landing.

Conclusion

With 180,000 visitors, 53 launches, 55-plus brands and an estimated 4,000-plus bookings, the NAIMA Nepal Mobility Expo 2026 has cemented itself as the marquee event on Nepal's automotive calendar. "This is not an end, it's a beginning," Vaidya said at the closing ceremony, promising a bigger, better, stronger expo next time.

But the real story isn't the record footfall. It's what that footfall represents. Nepal's mobility market is maturing at breakneck speed, buyers are more informed and more electric-minded than ever, and the shift toward affordable EVs is no longer a niche conversation. If this is what the second edition looked like, what will the third bring?

For more on every launch, deal and development from the show, Autoncell has it all covered.