Kia Motors, a 'Pleasant Start' in the Second Half... New Carnival Hits a Blockbuster Run

On the First Day of Pre-Orders, Domestic Car Industry Achieves 'All-Time Record'

4th generation Carnival (Photo by Kia Motors)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Kia Motors' 4th generation new Carnival, the first new car to be released in the second half of this year, is generating a buzz of excitement with responses exceeding expectations even before its launch.

According to industry sources on the 1st, the new Carnival set a record by securing 23,006 pre-orders on the very first day. This is the highest number of pre-orders recorded on the first day in the domestic automotive industry to date. The previous record was held by the 4th generation Sorento with 18,941 units, and the new Carnival surpassed this record by more than 4,000 units.

Kia attributed the success to its unconventional design and spacious interior. The new Carnival features new boarding and alighting convenience technologies such as smart power sliding doors, simultaneous remote power door opening and closing, smart power tailgate automatic closing, and boarding spot lamps. Additionally, it enhances interior convenience with rear seat voice recognition and navigation-linked 2nd-row power reclining seats.

4th Generation Carnival Interior (Photo by Kia Motors)

As a family car, it also boasts enhanced driving safety and convenience features. Advanced driver assistance systems such as smart cruise control, forward collision-avoidance assist, and lane keeping assist are standard on the new Carnival.

Notably, the new Carnival holds special significance as the first model Kia Motors is releasing right after the first half of the year, aiming to capitalize on the new car effect in the second half. Kia has particularly high expectations for the Carnival and the new Sportage for the remainder of this year.

An industry insider said, "Among the new cars Kia is launching in the second half, the Carnival was especially anticipated as a volume model. How long the popularity of the new Carnival continues amid the COVID-19 pandemic will affect performance not only in the second half of this year but also in the first half of next year."