This One Korean Car Sells More Than Total Sales Of 8 Car Companies

The sales across the Indian car market are spread very unevenly. The top 5 automakers in the country control 87.98 percent of the Indian automotive market. Meanwhile, 8 out of the 14 carmakers in the country have market shares of less than 1.5 percent each. What’s even more surprising is that a single Korean car, which is the Kia Carens premium MPV, has monthly sales that are higher than each of these manufacturers.

Kia Carens Sales Analysis

As mentioned above, Kia Carens has become the premium MPV that has dwarfed the sales of 8 automakers in the country. In the month of May this year, its sales tally was at 5,316 units. Despite this impressive sales figure, its month-on-month growth was -0.2 percent, and yearly sales are down by -16.5 percent.

As for the sales figures for the last five months, starting from December 2023 till April 2024, the Kia Carens sales were 2,563, 5,848, 4,832, 4,737, and 5,328 respectively. The average sales of this MPV from the South Korean automaker is 4,770 units.

Kia Carens vs Other Automakers

Generally, we compare the sales of two cars which are near about in terms of sales. However, in this unique comparison, we will be comparing the sales of the Kia Carens MPV with the total sales of the 8 automakers in the country which have lower than 2 percent market share.

Jeep

The first carmaker on this list is the American SUV manufacturer Jeep. Over the last few years, its sales have been plummeting. In the month of May, the company only managed to dispatch a total of 344 units in the entire country.

Yes, you read that right. These 344 units comprised all its models, including the Compass, Meridian, and Wrangler together. As stated, the Carens MPV, on the other hand, had a sales tally of 5,316 units. This means that the Carens sales were more than 15 times the total sales of Jeep.

Citroen

The second automaker on this list is Citroen, which is owned by the same Stellantis Group that owns Jeep. The total sales of the Citroen brand in May 2024 were 515 units, which is much lower than the Kia Carens’ 5,316 units.

The brand’s combined sales for models like the C3, C3 Aircross, and e-C3 added up to fewer than 550 units. Kia Carens sales were more than 10 times the sales of the French automaker in India.

Nissan

Currently, the Japanese automotive giant Nissan only sells one model in India, and that is its budget Magnite sub-compact SUV. This model managed to post a sales tally of 2,211 units in May 2024. Nissan, however, is looking to expand its portfolio in India and will soon be launching a few new models in the country.

Skoda

Next up on the lineup of automakers beaten by Kia Carens is the Czech carmaker Skoda. In the month of May this year, its total sales, including models like the Kodiaq, Kushaq, Slavia, and Superb, reached around 2,884 units. This is 1.8 times lower than that of the Kia Carens.

Volkswagen

Skoda’s cousin, German brand Volkswagen, with its Taigun, Tiguan, and Virtus models, managed to pull off a slightly better total of approximately 3,273 units in May 2024.

Renault

The French automaker Renault’s cumulative sales for the Kiger, Kwid, and Triber stood at around 3,709 units in May 2024. Now, it may be better than the rest of the automakers mentioned above, but it still gets dwarfed by the sales of the Kia Carens.

MG

The British motoring brand MG’s total sales are also not very impressive. The total sales tally, including the Astor, Comet, Gloster, Hector, and ZS EV, reached about 4,769 units in May 2024. Most likely, this has to do with the company not resonating with Indian car buyers on a major scale.

Honda

Last but not least, the Japanese automotive giant Honda came the closest to the Kia Carens. However, despite its 4,822 units sales, it could not take down the MPV. Honda currently sells four models in India. These include the City, City Hybrid, Amaze, and their newest compact SUV, the Elevate.

Kia Carens Facelift Coming Soon

In other Kia news, the South Korean automaker is working on the development of the facelifted Kia Carens. This new model is set to be launched in 2025. Recent spy shots have revealed that this new MPV will be getting a number of significant exterior updates, including a redesigned front fascia with new angular LED headlamps and an all-LED light bar.

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Although its side profile will be retained, it will now be getting a set of new dual-tone alloy wheels. Meanwhile, the rear will feature new LED taillights and a redesigned bumper. On the inside, the Carens facelift is expected to retain its layout but include upgraded features like ventilated seats, a sunroof, ambient lighting, and a 360-degree camera system.

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Additionally, reports have stated that the powertrain lineup will stay the same, offering 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines with various transmission options.  Apart from this facelift, the company is also developing an electric variant of the Carens. It will be launched later in 2025. It could potentially feature a 45 kWh battery with a range of 400 km. Upon launch, the new Kia Carens facelift will be competing with other MPVs like the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, XL6, and Hyundai Alcazar.

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