"True to Its Name Family Car"... Kia Motors Launches 4th Generation New Carnival

Online Launch Event for New 4th Generation Carnival on the 18th
48% of Pre-Orders Are for the Top Trim
High Contract Ratio for 9-Seater Diesel Model
Family Car Leader Emphasizing Unmatched Space Utilization

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] Kia Motors launched the new 4th generation Carnival minivan in the domestic market on the 18th. Kia aims to capture not only the minivan market but also the family car market, including sport utility vehicles (SUVs), through the launch of the completely redesigned Carnival after six years.

On this day, Kia held Korea's first online new car launch event applying augmented reality (AR) and officially began sales of the 4th generation Carnival. The new Carnival recorded over 32,000 pre-orders in 14 business days starting from the 28th of last month, confirming explosive popularity. This figure exceeds half of last year's Carnival sales (63,706 units).

Among pre-order customers, 48% chose the top-tier trim 'Signature,' confirming consumer demand for a premium minivan. By seating capacity, 9-seater contracts accounted for 70%, and diesel engine models made up 80%, representing the majority.

Kia has set a goal to write a new record in the domestic family car market with the launch of the new Carnival, featuring grand design, premium-level space utilization, the latest convenience features, and advanced new technologies. The new Carnival is available with two engine options: gasoline 3.5 and diesel 2.2, each offered in 7-, 9-, and 11-seater configurations.

Even before the launch of the new model, the Carnival consistently enjoyed popularity, holding a 60% share of the domestic minivan market. According to the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, last year the domestic minivan market was about 100,000 units, with the Carnival accounting for 60% (63,000 units). Next was Hyundai's Starex with 38%, SsangYong's Turismo and Honda Odyssey each with 1%, and Toyota Sienna recorded a minimal share with about 400 units sold.

With the complete redesign of Hyundai's Starex expected to be released around next year and SsangYong's Turismo ceasing production starting this year, the new Carnival is expected to maintain its absolute dominance in the minivan market without competitors for some time. Recently, due to the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), domestic travel and outdoor activities such as car camping and golf have increased, leading to a rising demand for multipurpose vehicles (MPVs).

Kia Motors, 4th Generation Carnival Interior

Although various family cars targeting outdoor activities have recently been launched in the domestic market, the Carnival is unrivaled in terms of space utilization. The wheelbase, which determines the vehicle's interior space, is 3,090 mm for the new Carnival, 30 mm longer than before, while the large SUVs Palisade and Mohave measure 2,900 mm and 2,895 mm respectively.

Based on these product qualities, the new Carnival set a new record by surpassing 20,000 pre-orders in just one day. As demand surged early in the launch, on the 13th, Kia Motors President Song Ho-sung visited the Sohari plant where the Carnival is produced to personally inspect the production line.

A Kia Motors official said, "The new Carnival has been reborn as a connecting hub that combines attractive design and cutting-edge technology," adding, "Equipped with connectivity and care technologies, it will offer premium space that delivers the best value to drivers' daily lives."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.