SEOUL, March 8 (Korea Bizwire) – The popularity of convenient minivans is increasing in South Korea as the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically boosted car-centric leisure activities including outdoor camping and ‘chabak’ (sleeping in the car).
Since its launch in August 2020, Kia Corp. has already sold 58,942 units of the company’s all-new Carnival minivan.
This figure is equivalent to 7.9% of the combined sales of passenger cars and recreational vehicles (RVs) (746,727 units) made by the country’s five major automakers during the same period.
An average of 7,098 minivans have been sold on a monthly basis so far this year, reversing a six-year drop after a 2015 peak of 8,375 units per month.
The Kia Carnival is the only MPV available in the domestic MPV market, as other MPV models such as GM Korea’s Orlando RV, SsangYong Motor Co.’s Korando Turismo, and the smaller Kia Carens MPV have been released. abandoned.
In this context, some import car brands are launching a series of new MPVs.
Toyota Motor Korea Co. plans to launch the Sienna Hybrid, the first hybrid MPV in the domestic market, next month, while Honda Korea Co. launched its Odyssey MPV last month.
Image Credit: Kia Corp. / Yonhap / Toyota Motor Korea Co. / photonews@koreabizwire.com
