The Proton X70 has just been launched in Nepal through official distributor Jagdamba Motors. Unlike the X70 variants available here in Malaysia, the C-segment SUV for the Nepal market features a 1.5L turbo engine – the same one powering the Proton X50 – all-wheel drive, and a cool RM300,000 starting price.

Four different variants of the X70 are offered in Nepal. The base 1.5 TGDi Standard 2WD model costs 8.699 million Nepalese rupee (about RM304,275), while the 1.5 TGDi Executive 2WD trim is priced at 9.199 million rupee (approximately RM321,765).

The all-wheel drive 1.5 TGDi Executive and 1.5 TGDi Premium models, on the other hand, go for 9.699 million rupee (around RM339,255) and 10.499 million rupee (about RM367,240) respectively.

Compared to the pricing of the X70 for the Malaysian market – between RM89,900 to RM115,800 now with sales tax exemption – these prices are definitely much, much dearer. But that’s because Nepal imposes high import duties, which drive up the prices of the SUV considerably.

As Proton mentioned before, the national carmaker will be focusing on its export business quite a bit in 2021. Rest assured, Proton will still meet local demand, though the current total lockdown is preventing the carmaker from fulfilling outstanding orders.

Until we transition to phase two of the government’s National Recovery Plan (NRP), most of the automotive sector will remain closed.