Status of Service and Spare Parts Amid Growth of Diverse Vehicle Brands in Nepal

August 13, Kathmandu. With the expansion of the electric vehicle market in Nepal, an increasing number of new vehicle brands are entering the market. Featuring attractive designs, advanced technology, extended range, and competitive prices, Chinese and other international brands are making a prominent entry into the Nepalese market. This trend is evident at the ongoing ‘NAIMA Nepal Mobility Expo–2026’ held in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu since August 11.

More than 55 brands are participating in the expo, with over 40 new models unveiled. The pace of new brands entering the four-wheeler, two-wheeler, and commercial vehicle segments is accelerating rapidly.

However, as the variety of brands and models increases, consumers now face pressing questions such as: Where will service be available after purchase? Are spare parts readily accessible? Who will repair the battery or motor in case of malfunction? What happens if the company exits the Nepalese market?

When buying vehicles, customers often focus heavily on price, range, design, features, and financing options. Yet, post-sale service is equally critical for evaluating the true ownership cost and long-term reliability of the vehicle.

Currently, customers tend to prioritize new models over the quality of service and availability of spare parts. Attractive offers associated with new launches draw customers, but many neglect to consider ease of service center access or spare parts availability after purchase.

New Brands Bring New Risks

In recent years, Chinese electric vehicle brands have rapidly entered Nepal’s auto market. Participating in NAIMA Expo–2026 are brands including BYD, Omoda/Zeeko, Denza, Forthing, Henry Volts, Icar, K, Lipmotor, Maxus, R-Fox, Henry Boma, Wuling, and Jikor.

While some are new to Nepal, others are expanding their market presence. The biggest challenge for these brands lies in ensuring reliable after-sales service and spare parts supply since establishing a showroom to sell vehicles is different from building a nationwide service network.

Having attractive showrooms and a few service centers in Kathmandu alone cannot guarantee long-term support for customers nationwide. Especially outside Kathmandu, questions remain about availability of regular servicing, accident repairs, battery checking, motor and electronic parts maintenance, and access to genuine spare parts.

How Extensive are Service Centers Outside Kathmandu?

Established brands are expanding their service networks alongside vehicle sales. Established players are increasing their customer base and simultaneously extending service centers. However, new brands have varying situations — some operate with limited Kathmandu networks, while others are expanding to major cities across Nepal.

Consumers visiting the expo should ask, “Where are your service centers located? How many in Kathmandu? Are there centers in key cities like Pokhara, Chitwan, Butwal, Nepalgunj, Biratnagar, Itahari, and Birgunj?”

In the global EV market, BYD operates 14 service centers nationwide in Nepal. Tata Motors has 37 charging stations and more than two dozen service centers across the country.

Other brands such as GWM, Mahindra, Royal Enfield, Proton, Omoda, Nissan, Hyundai, Suzuki, Denzha, TVS, KTM, and Atar have also extended their service centers nationwide.

For newer brands, service centers remain limited mostly to the Kathmandu valley and a few other locations.

What is the Spare Parts Stock Situation?

Having service centers alone is insufficient; adequate availability of necessary spare parts is equally critical. While parts for basic maintenance may be locally available, components such as motors, controllers, inverters, battery modules, charging systems, airbags, and various electronic parts often need to be imported, which can delay repairs and increase customers’ expenses.

Ensuring availability of spare parts and service centers is crucial when new brands enter Nepal. NAIMA Nepal Mobility Expo–2026 coordinator and Sharda Group director Gaurav Sharda emphasizes that after-sales service is a fundamental responsibility of every brand.

“Every brand must manage its own service operations. We are also engaging with the government on road infrastructure matters,” he stated.

He added that educational sessions are being held in collaboration with Nepal Police Club at the expo venue in Bhrikutimandap. However, the brands themselves must remain accountable for service.

“Service is simple — if I provide good service to my customers, who else will buy my vehicles tomorrow? Customers are not foolish,” Sharda remarked.

According to him, since customers invest more than NPR 3 million in buying a vehicle, they make decisions by reviewing the company’s history and service network.

“I urge customers to thoroughly check the manufacturer, official dealer, service history, and spare parts availability before selecting a vehicle,” he emphasized.

The expo presents an excellent opportunity for customers interested in new brands, as many brand representatives are available at one location. Customers can inquire beyond price and features to understand post-sale service conditions. Sharda recommends customers seek answers to these five key questions:

• How many authorized service centers exist nationwide?
• Which cities outside Kathmandu offer service facilities?
• What is the stock level of necessary genuine spare parts and how long is the import lead time?
• Are repair services for battery, motor, controller, or inverter available locally, or must entire parts be replaced?
• If an importer or manufacturer ceases operations in Nepal, who takes responsibility for servicing vehicles and supplying parts?

When purchasing a new vehicle, it is important to ask not only “How large is the company?” but also: Who is the official dealer in Nepal? What is their financial strength? How long have they been in the market? What investment have they made in service networks? And how long do they commit to supplying parts?

Failing to obtain clear answers to these questions can expose customers to additional risks if purchases are made based solely on attractive design, range, features, or price showcased at the expo.