Nexon Venture unveils LEV 1 in Nepali market

 

KATHMANDU, MARCH 4: Nexon Venture Pvt. Ltd., the authorised distributor of LS Auto for Nepal, has introduced a new electric cross-over utility vehicle (CUV), LEV 01. It did so by holding a program yesterday in the capital. 

The vehicle is the first model of LEV series manufactured by  LS Auto,  a subsidiary of China-based Shanghai Launch Automotive Technology. The parent company boasts of being one of the world’s leading automotive design houses. For over 25 years, it has been engaged in turnkey projects, including the design, engineering, prototype development, and production testing of various automobile brands. In addition to automobiles, the company has also designed high-speed trains and helicopters in China.

The subsidiary company plans to launch two additional models, LEV 03 and LEV 05, in 2025. Both will be available in right-hand drive (RHD) and left-hand drive (LHD) configurations, making them suitable for the Nepalese market. The LEV 03 is positioned as a premium crossover electric SUV, while the LEV 05 is a midsize compact SUV.

Key features of LEV 01

The LEV 01, already available in Nepal through Nexon Venture, is offered in two variants: Standard Edition (SE) and Comfort Edition (CE). It is equipped with a 67.12 kWh battery pack and a 99 kW front-wheel drive motor generating 300 Nm of torque.

Designed for Nepal's road conditions, it offers 210 mm of ground clearance. Built on the LEV-X pure electric platform, its battery pack is positioned higher than the side body, ensuring 221 mm of clearance between the battery and the ground.

The LEV 01 uses SVOLT’s honeycomb architecture-designed lithium iron phosphate battery pack, which is 8 percent more efficient than NCM and blade batteries, according to global reviews. Unlike many EVs, its battery pack is not externally exposed. With a drag coefficient of just 0.268, this SUV is highly aerodynamic, contributing to its 500 km range on a full charge.

"Premium" design & safety

The LEV 01 features:

• Exterior: Horizontal DRLs, vertical headlight setup, and a suspended taillight design
• Interior: Leatherette steering wheel and seat covers, 360-degree camera, wireless charging pad, multi-color ambient lighting, electrically adjustable front seats, luxury cabin space, high-tech dashboard interface, LCD instrument cluster, panoramic sunroof, and an electric tailgate
• Driving: Multiple drive modes
• Safety: 10 airbags, ABS, EBD, EPS, traction control, electronic stability control, cruise control, auto hold, hill assist control

Crash-tested by Euro NCAP, the LEV 01 has received a 5-star safety rating. Nexon Venture offers an 8-year or 150,000 km warranty on the motor and battery.

Pricing

The price of the Standard Edition (SE) of LEV 1 is Rs 6,195,000 while its Comfort Edition (CE) costs Rs  6,995,000

Nexon Venture also plans to expand charging stations across Nepal. It has already established a showroom in Baluwatar, Kathmandu, near the Chinese Embassy, with another opening in Balkumari, Lalitpur, next week. Additionally, a service center is operating in Manmaiju.

Notably, renowned Nepali actresses Rekha Thapa and Pooja Sharma are said to have already purchased the vehicle.