Tag Archives: South Korea

NEWS

This Kia Carnival can only accommodate four people

In late 2020, Kia introduced the Carnival Hi Limousine variant, featuring a taller roof design compared to the standard Carnival.

This is not merely a roof storage box added to the Carnival; rather, it is a raised roof section that provides a larger cabin space.

For the updated 2026 model year, the Kia Carnival Hi Limousine has received several new features and, for the first time, a hybrid engine option.

There is a choice of seven or nine-seat configurations for the Noblesse version, whereas the more luxurious Signature version can only accommodate four people at a time.

The Signature trim not only features captain’s seats complete with footrests, but also offers a massage function and special storage for shoes.

Passengers in the second row must share a control screen to adjust settings, along with a 21.5-inch screen mounted on the ceiling.

Additionally, there are wireless smartphone charging slots, coat hooks, a refrigerator, and a Bose audio system with 12 speakers.

To ensure the comfort of VIP passengers in the rear, Kia has added soft padding, sound dampening, and lowered the height of the rear seats.

In terms of power, the Carnival Hi Limousine is available with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 290 hp, and a 1.6-liter turbo hybrid engine capable of generating 242 hp.

Unfortunately, there is no 2.2-liter diesel engine option offered for the Carnival Hi Limousine.

In the South Korean market, the 2026 Kia Carnival Hi Limousine is priced from 63.27 million won (RM192,000) to 97.8 million won (RM297,000) for the Signature Hybrid variant.

EV, NEWS

Tesla sold a total of one car in South Korea in January

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In Malaysia, Tesla is much lauded by electric vehicle (EV) users and enthusiasts alike, but in South Korea, it’s an entirely different story.

According to a report by Free Malaysia Today, the Texas-based EV manufacturer only managed to sell one car, a Model Y, in January due to concerns about safety, pricing, and charging infrastructure.

Data from the Seoul-based research firm Carisyou and the Korea Ministry of Trade indicates that this marked Tesla’s worst sales performance since July 2022, when it sold no vehicles at all.

Carisyou also reported that the number of new EV registrations in the country declined by 80% in January 2023 compared to December 2022.

It is understood that the slow reception for EVs in South Korea is due to higher interest rates and inflation, which have forced consumers to restrain their spending.

Furthermore, concerns about battery fires and a shortage of fast chargers have also contributed to the decline in EV demand there.

Lee Hang-Koo, head of the Jeonbuk Institute of Automotive Convergence Technology said most Koreans who wanted a Tesla car have already bought one.

In fact, some Koreans dislike Tesla and are concerned about the quality of production after learning that some of them are made in China.

Lee also mentioned that many people avoided buying vehicles in January because they were waiting for the government’s announcement of subsidies.