BYD Dolphin in Nepal: who it suits, its range and what Rs 41.15 lakh gets you

The BYD Dolphin is a five-seat electric hatchback sold in Nepal in one version at Rs 41.15 lakh (indicative ex-showroom price on the official Cimex site, checked October 2026). It suits a small family that drives mostly in and around a city and wants a long written warranty. Buyers who need ground clearance, more range or a bigger boot should look at the rivals below. Full figures are on the BYD Dolphin price in Nepal page.

What it is

BYD's distributor Cimex launched the Dolphin in Nepal in September 2023. By December 2025, Cimex said more than 2,500 were on Nepali roads, according to The Himalayan Times. It sits between BYD's smaller Atto 1 and the Atto 2 compact SUV. This is a buyer's guide built from the official figures. We have not driven the car, so we say nothing about how it drives or rides.

Price and what the money buys

There is no step-up variant in Nepal, so there is no choice to make on battery or trim. The question is whether Rs 41.15 lakh is better spent here or on a rival.

Battery, range and charging

The 340 km is a WLTP laboratory figure. Real range depends on speed, hills, load and air-conditioning, and Nepal's long climbs use more energy than city driving. Plan trips with a margin and check where chargers are on your route.

Size, space and features we can confirm

From the official Cimex page:

• Five adult seats with vegan-leather sports seats and multi-way adjustment.
• A 345-litre boot (Cimex says four standard 20-inch suitcases fit) that grows to 1,310 litres with the seats folded.
• A flat rear floor, which helps the middle passenger.
• A large central touchscreen with voice control and connected-car functions.
• Ventilated front discs and rear discs; MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension.

Cimex's Nepal page does not list length, ground clearance, airbag count or ADAS features. Ask for a full equipment sheet before you buy.

Warranty

Cimex lists an 8-year or 1,60,000 km battery and vehicle warranty, with terms, conditions and exclusions. That is longer on the vehicle side than the MG4 EV, its nearest rival on price: MG Nepal lists 1 year on the vehicle, 3 years or 1,00,000 km on high-voltage components and 8 years or 1,50,000 km on the battery.

What it costs to run

We assume 16 kWh per 100 km at the plug. That is our assumption, a little above the rated figure, to allow for charging losses, hills and air-conditioning. Electricity is priced at Rs 11.55 per unit: the Nepal Electricity Authority's Rs 11 top domestic rate plus the 5% VAT The Kathmandu Post reported from July 2026.

To compare rivals fairly, the chart divides each car's battery by its official WLTP range and prices that at Rs 11.55 a unit. It is a like-for-like rated figure, not a real-world cost.

BYD Dolphin152.5 Rs

BYD Atto 1 Premium149.7 Rs

BYD Atto 2 Essential167 Rs

MG4 EV Comfort168.3 Rs

Rated electricity cost per 100 km (Rs)

BYD Dolphin	152.5 Rs
BYD Atto 1 Premium	149.7 Rs
BYD Atto 2 Essential	167 Rs
MG4 EV Comfort	168.3 Rs

Source: Our arithmetic: battery ÷ official WLTP range × Rs 11.55 per unit (NEA tariff + 5% VAT); Cimex and MG Nepal official figures, October 2026

The differences are small: a few thousand rupees a year at most. Price, warranty and space matter more than energy use in this group. To compare with a petrol car, use the EV vs petrol cost calculator.

Loan maths. Banks can lend at most 60% of the price (Nepal Rastra Bank), so you need at least Rs 16.46 lakh of your own and can borrow up to Rs 24.69 lakh. As an example, at Nepal Bank's published fixed EV rate of 7.90% for 5 years, that loan works out to about Rs 49,940 a month. Your bank's rate will differ; try the EMI calculator.

Rivals at a similar price

• The MG4 EV costs Rs 34,000 more, with a bigger battery, 10 km more claimed range and faster DC charging, but a much shorter vehicle warranty.
• The Atto 2 costs Rs 4.80 lakh more and is a small SUV with 200 mm of ground clearance and a bigger boot, but less claimed range and a shorter warranty.
• The Dongfeng Nammi Vigo starts at Rs 37.99 lakh, Rs 3.16 lakh less.
• The Atto 1 Premium is Rs 6.35 lakh cheaper but smaller, with 300 km of WLTP range.

BYD DolphinRs 41.15 lakhvsMG4 EVRs 41.49 lakh – Rs 49.99 lakhCompare side by side →

Who it suits

The Dolphin suits you if:

• Your budget is around Rs 41 lakh ex-showroom and you want a five-seat hatchback.
• You drive mostly in the city or on regular routes well within 340 km.
• You value an 8-year written warranty on the whole vehicle, not only the battery.

Look elsewhere if:

• You often drive steep, broken roads and want a quoted ground clearance (Cimex gives none for the Dolphin; the Atto 2 lists 200 mm).
• You want the most range for the money: the MG4 EV Deluxe claims 435 km for Rs 49.99 lakh.
• You need room for more than five people.

What to check before buying

1. Book a test drive on the kind of road you use every day, including a climb.
2. Ask for the equipment sheet: airbags, ADAS, camera and screen size.
3. Read the warranty booklet: 8 years and 1,60,000 km, and what is excluded.
4. Confirm which charger comes with the car and who installs it.
5. Ask the dealer for the full price with registration, tax and insurance in writing; our guide to road tax and insurance shows what to expect.

Comparing more electric cars at this price? See our best electric cars under Rs 40 lakh and the full EV price list.