As prices at the pump rise, tiny cars known as subcompacts have grown ever more popular in Korea. Through April this year Kia Motors has sold some 33,000 units of its Morning-series subcompacts. That’s a growth of 300 percent from the same period last year.
Kia says the fuel-efficient mini car has been so popular that it has over 32,000 units on back order, meaning a wait of up to six months for many buyers.
GM Daewoo’s Matiz has also seen a steady rise in sales with more than 5,000 of the mini cars sold since March and another 5,000 on back order. The two models are currently the only subcompacts made by Korean automakers for domestic sale, putting demand far above supply. [Source: Chosun]
May 28th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Whoa! koreans seem to be Krazy about picanto! well, duh. who can resist this car?
May 28th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
when kia discontinued the pride (the first pride was build in 1987) in 2000, loose the first place in the sub-compact segment, because the pride was the most popular car ever build in korea, and now, kia want re-take the lead with the morning (picanto). in chile when the pride arrived, was in the first’s places during all the comercial period, and now still can be seen prides rolling in the chilean street in all versions, beta sedan, family wgn, young 5d and pride 3d (populary known as “kia pop”)
May 28th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Too bad it is b/o, this model would be popular worlwide with the gas prices going up. We would sell alot in Quebec ( eastern Canada ).
May 29th, 2008 at 12:03 am
Yes, this model would sell well in Canada. Perhaps Kia will decide this is the one they should build in US – we can only hope
May 29th, 2008 at 12:06 am
In northern Michigan (the highest concentration of Kia vehicles in USA) every Picanto would be sold before it left the car carrier. Jobs and money are scarce. If Kia could sell these for 8,000 dollars, they would easily break sales records!
May 29th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
If they sold it for 8000 then they wouldn’t make any profit at all. Even if the price was near 10K $ they would sell tons of them. You’re right Greg, Picantos would be flying out of dealers lots!
What’s interesting with Picanto sales (in Korea) is that these numbers were achieved only this year when Picanto got a facelift. It’s sales is up by 300%!!!
So, do you think, the reason for 300% increase in sales was achieved because of it’s facelift (better an more attractive) or record high oil prices? Or perhaps because of both factors together? What’s your opinion?
May 30th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
I think it’s because of the record high oil prices and the facelift, himi. The fact is, it’s hella-popular and that’s the important thing! Kia delivers value and good looks and reliability, and that is hard to pass up when shopping for a new vehicle.
May 30th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
I must confess that I laughed at the [old] picanto at first sight!
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This new picanto looks tons better than the previous one. And this is the first time I feel its worth buying picanto. good job Kia!
May 30th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
I actually liked the old picanto. It was quite good looking, except of one thing, it’s horror waterfall grille. I don’t know who let that part for production, but for sure it wasn’t Mr. Schreyer. He would never approve such a bad design (grille) for a production car.
The new one looks good, but in my opinion, it has to have a sport package such as one on the pics above. Without it, it looses some of it’s “sporty look”.
I’m glad it sells as a hot cake in Korea. I just wished it had better quality. Last week, when Autobild (or ADAC) published reliability surveys in Germany, I saw Picanto and Hyundai Getz placing last two places among small-mini cars.
I was really not that happy to see that.
May 30th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
those germans journs always put down brands that didnt have a good name in the past. they did the same to put down chinese cars.