Two Nora electric cars under Rs 3 million headed for PAPS 2026 in Lahore

Two battery electric models priced below Rs 3 million are being lined up for the Pakistan Auto Parts Show (PAPS 2026) in Lahore, which runs from 18 to 20 September. Both come from Nora. Both undercut the cheapest Suzuki Alto variant.

What they are

The Nora NEO and the Nora METRO are five-door, four-seat vehicles, but they are certified in the L7 quadricycle category rather than as passenger cars. That distinction matters and we come back to it below.

Shared specifications as listed by the company:

• Battery: 23.1 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP)
• Claimed range: 250 to 300 km
• Motor: 4 kW, rear mounted
• Charging time: 6 to 8 hours
• Price: below Rs 3 million for both

The METRO is the larger of the two. On some dimensions it is bigger than a Suzuki Swift, which is unusual at this price.

Shipping delays mean the units may not make the opening day. The launch has slipped to around 20 September or later.

Why under Rs 3 million is the number that matters

Rs 3 million is roughly where the entry-level petrol hatchback market sits in Pakistan. Anything below that competes directly with the Alto, and the Alto is the highest-volume car in the country. A 23.1 kWh battery with a claimed 250 to 300 km range at that price is a different proposition from the imported EVs that start around Rs 8 million.

Running cost is the real pitch. Petrol is at Rs 391.22 a litre. A small hatchback doing 14 km per litre costs about Rs 28 per kilometre in fuel. Charging a 23.1 kWh pack on a domestic tariff costs a fraction of that, though the exact figure depends on your slab. Our AC running cost calculator uses the same slab logic if you want to work out what an overnight charge adds to your bill, and the fuel cost calculator gives you the petrol number to compare against.

The L7 quadricycle catch

An L7 quadricycle is not legally the same thing as a car. In markets where the category is established, L7 vehicles face limits on kerb weight, motor power and top speed, and they are generally not built or crash-tested to passenger-car standards. A 4 kW motor is small. Expect city speeds, not motorway speeds.

Pakistan does not yet have a settled consumer framework for how L7 vehicles are registered, taxed and insured. Before you book one, get in writing from the dealer: which registration category the excise office will use, what token tax applies, and whether a normal private car insurance policy will cover it. Our token tax calculator covers the standard passenger-car rates, which is the benchmark to compare against whatever the dealer quotes.

What to do at the show

If you are going to PAPS this weekend, three questions are worth asking at the stand: the warranty term on the battery pack specifically, where the nearest service point is in your city, and whether the claimed 250 to 300 km range figure is a certified test number or a company estimate. Claimed range on small LFP packs typically drops sharply with air conditioning running, which in Lahore is most of the year.

Nothing is confirmed on deliveries yet. Treat any booking payment taken before a firm delivery date with the same caution you would apply to any pre-launch order in this market.