The Kia Carnival entered the Indian market in February 2020, with bookings starting in January 2020. Over the years, the premium MPV witnessed fluctuating sales, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, changing consumer preferences, and emission regulations. In April 2023, Kia discontinued the Carnival in India as it did not meet the BS6 Phase 2 norms, and bookings were officially stopped.
The Kia Carnival recorded 5,210 units in its debut year. Sales peaked in February 2020 with 1,620 units, following strong initial demand. March saw a 31.1 percent decline with 1,117 units, and April recorded zero sales due to the nationwide lockdown. Sales began recovering in May with 50 units, reaching 161 units in June and 232 units in July.
August saw a 14.7 percent decline, with sales dropping to 198 units. September and October saw moderate recovery, with 331 units (+67.2 percent) and 400 units (+20.8 percent), respectively. November remained stable at 400 units, but December dropped to 251 units (-37.3 percent).
In 2021, Kia Carnival sales declined to 4,107 units, a 21 percent drop from the previous year. January started at 328 units, increasing to 400 units in February (+22 percent). March saw a major drop to 45 units (-88.8 percent) due to supply constraints and reduced demand.
April rebounded with 301 units (+568.9 percent), followed by 146 units in May (-51.5 percent). June saw a significant recovery with 503 units (+244.5 percent). The following months had mixed results, with sales fluctuating between 358 and 404 units from July to October.
November saw the year’s peak with 636 units (+59 percent) before a steep decline in December to 207 units (-67.5 percent), likely due to stock clearance and anticipation for newer models.
Sales continued to decline in 2022, with 3,554 units, a 13.5 percent drop compared to 2021. January started with 357 units, but February dropped to 283 units (-20.7 percent). March and April saw minor recoveries, reaching 328 and 355 units, respectively.
May saw a sharp decline to 239 units (-32.7 percent), but June improved to 285 units (+19.2 percent). July to October remained relatively stable, with sales between 278 and 333 units. November recorded a peak of 419 units (+39.2 percent) before December saw the lowest sales of the year, dropping to 88 units (-79 percent).
In its final year, the Kia Carnival recorded 1,675 units before being discontinued in April 2023. January saw a significant rise, reaching 1,003 units, followed by 504 units in February, and 168 units in March. With the stricter BS6 Phase 2 norms, Kia decided to discontinue the Carnival in India, and bookings were stopped from April 2023.
The Kia Carnival was a premium MPV that catered to a niche audience. From 2020 to 2023, Kia sold 14,546 units of Carnival. While it offered a luxury experience, competition from the Toyota Innova Crysta affected its sales. FrAdditionally, the lack of significant updates, and the introduction of BS6 Phase 2 emission norms made it difficult for Kia to continue selling the model without major modifications.
The Kia Carnival had a strong start in India but saw a steady decline in sales over the years. From 5,210 units in 2020 to 4,107 units in 2021, 3,554 units in 2022, and just 1,675 units in 2023, its market performance gradually weakened. Kia plans to bring the next-generation Carnival in the future, there is still hope for a comeback in the Indian market.
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