The Nepali capital will soon see a quiet revolution on its streets. Leapmotor, the Chinese EV startup, has teamed up with its official dealer Sangrila Motors to let prospective owners drive an electric car around their own neighbourhood for an entire day. No showroom queue, no time‑limit, no hidden fees – just the vehicle parked in the driveway, the kitchen lights on, the family watching as the car runs its daily routes.
That matters because the typical 10‑minute spin in a dealership rarely reveals how a car behaves on uneven hill climbs, pothole‑strewn lanes, or during a grocery‑run. Home testing turns the decision from a guess into a lived experience.
The process is deliberately simple:
All of this is free – the company explicitly states there is no charge for the home delivery or the test period.
| Phase | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Booking opens | 9 Feb 2026 | Online portal goes live, first‑come‑first‑served slots |
| First deliveries | 15 Feb 2026 | Vehicles dispatched to Kathmandu Valley homes |
| Program review | 1 May 2026 | Feedback collected, expansion plans announced |
The program also sidesteps a cultural hurdle: many Nepali buyers rely heavily on word‑of‑mouth and personal experience before committing to a high‑value purchase. By delivering the car to the doorstep, Leapmotor inserts itself directly into that trust‑building loop.
Leapmotor’s global footprint already exceeds 10 Lakh units, and the company reported 5,96,555 deliveries in the calendar year 2025. Bringing that scale to Nepal signals a serious intent to capture market share from established players like Toyota and Hyundai.
If the home‑test model gains traction, we could see a cascade of benefits:
The initiative dovetails with Nepal’s broader push for electric mobility, supported by recent tax incentives and expanding charging infrastructure. As more households gain access to reliable home chargers, the लीपमोटर सँग १ दिन program could become a template for other EV brands.
Sangrila Motors has hinted at a phased rollout beyond Kathmandu. Rural pilots are slated for later in 2026, focusing on districts with emerging grid stability. Meanwhile, the company is preparing a “Swap‑and‑Drive” add‑on, allowing customers to exchange the test vehicle for a different model during the same 24‑hour window.
The real test will be adoption numbers. Early sign‑ups have already filled the first two weeks of slots, suggesting strong appetite among tech‑savvy urbanites. If the program meets its internal targets, a nationwide expansion could be announced by the end of the year.
Q: Which Leapmotor models are eligible for the home‑test program? A: All currently available Leapmotor EVs in Nepal – the C01, T03 and the upcoming C11 – can be booked through the Sangrila Motors portal.
Q: Do I need a home charger to participate? A: No. The delivery team brings a portable Level 2 charger for the 24‑hour trial. Permanent home‑charging installation is optional.
Q: How is the vehicle protected while it sits at my house? A: Each car is equipped with GPS tracking, remote lock/unlock, and an anti‑theft alarm that alerts both the driver’s phone and the Sangrila service center.
Q: What happens after the 24‑hour test? A: You can either confirm the purchase, negotiate a different trim, or simply decline – the vehicle is collected at no cost.
Q: Is the program available outside Kathmandu Valley? A: Initial rollout is limited to the Kathmandu metropolitan area. Expansion to other districts is planned for mid‑2026.
Q: Will the test‑drive affect the vehicle’s warranty? A: No. The trial period is covered under the standard Leapmotor warranty, and any mileage accrued during the test is treated as pre‑delivery use.