Kia Motors has embarked on a joint venture with Bermaz Auto of Malaysia (BAuto) to assemble vehicles for ASEAN markets, including the Philippines.
This finally concludes the South Korean automaker’s quest for the perfect collaborator to sell its models in Malaysia and the rest of Southeast Asia.
Kia has found a new Malaysian partner to assemble and market its vehicles
A joint venture company, Kia Malaysia, is set to formalize the strategic partnership by being tasked with the local assembly of CKD Kia vehicles in the Malaysian market.
BAuto subsidiary Dinamikjaya Motors will handle the distribution for both CKD and CBU Kia models, as well as handling aftersales services.
BAuto takes over the Kia franchise from Malaysia’s Naza Group of Companies, which divested itself of the Kia and Peugeot automotive brands.
Three models have been lined up for production at Kia Malaysia’s Inokom facility, with two of them confirmed to be the all-new Carnival MPV and Seltos subcompact crossover.
The next-generation Carnival is one of three models eyed for production in Malaysia
“After months of searching for the right partner, Kia is delighted to enter into the Kia JV and Kia Distributorship with BAuto,” said Kia Asia Pacific President and Chief Executive Officer Tae Hun Lee, citing the company’s track record both in Malaysia and the Philippines.
BAuto’s Philippine arm, Berjaya Auto, is the official distributor of Mazda vehicles in the country.
The partnership also aims to turn Malaysia into a regional manufacturing hub for Kia, serving ASEAN countries and other potential markets. This means that our local Kia lineup could eventually consist of Malaysia-sourced vehicles.
Will our future lineup of Kia cars be assembled by our ASEAN neighbor?
Operations for the new joint venture will commence in 2022, with initial projections of 2,000 units in the first year. Analysts expect this figure to reach 7,000 by 2023, with a goal to eventually surpass the 10,000 to 12,000 annual unit sales currently enjoyed by Mazda, another car brand under BAuto’s wing.
Meanwhile, the new company will be unable to honor warranties and other commitments for Kia vehicles sold under the previous distributor, frustrating Malaysian owners of Kia cars. Nevertheless, Kia Malaysia is reaching out to customers, encouraging them to register at its official website for information on warranty claims and recalls.
We put together the latest automotive updates both here and abroad at Philkotse.com.
Know more about Kia Carnival 2024
The 2025 Kia Carnival is a seven-seater minivan. It is now in its fourth generation, and it has two different variants for the Philippine market.
These include the Carnival SX AT, and the Carnival EX AT. Its prices range from Php 2,888,000 to Php 3,368,000.
Under the hood of the all-new Carnival is a 2.2-liter turbodiesel mill that can generate up to 200 horsepower and 440 Nm of torque. Both variants are front-wheel-drive, and both use an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Size-wise, the new Carnival is 5,115mm long, 1,985mm wide, and 1,740mm in height. It also has a wheelbase length of 3,060mm.
Locally, the 2025 Kia Carnival rivals the Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Grand Starex, and GAC GN8, among others.
>>> New and used Kia Carnival 2025 for sale in the Philippines
Kia Carnival Launch
The Kia Carnival’s first-gen model was initially introduced as the Kia Sedona back in 2001. Later on, it reached other markets around the world as the Kia Carnival, Kia Grand Carnival, Hyundai Entourage, and the Sedona.
For the Philippine market in 2022, it was now known as the Kia Carnival. It replaced the old third-gen model, and it came in two different variants.
Kia Carnival Exterior
On the outside, the new Carnival 2025 offers a sophisticated-looking design with SUV-like qualities. It sports the new Kia logo, classy-looking C-pillars, and a pair of sharp-looking headlamps. For the EX, it rides on a set of 18-inch wheels. The SX meanwhile, gets a larger 19-inch set.
Kia Carnival Interior
At most, the 2025 Kia Carnival Philippines can comfortably seat up to seven occupants. It features captain second-row seats with leg rests, a wide bench-type third-row seat, and plenty of cargo space. The front seats for the driver also come with electronic adjustment. All the seats are then clad in leather or leatherette.
Access to the vehicle is also made easy with power sliding doors, and a power tailgate. Other features found inside the new Carnival are a sunroof, and a 3-zone automatic climate control system, among others.
The driver is then provided with cruise control, a push-to-start button, and a digital gauge cluster.
Technology & Safety Features
Safety-wise, the Carnival Philippines gets a total of six airbags, a rear camera, anti-lock braking with electronic brake-force distribution, front and rear parking sensors, stability control, ISOFIX anchors, and hill-start assist, among others.
Those standard safety features are then supported by blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision avoidance, and lane keep assist.
Entertainment is handled by an eight-inch headunit with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The said headunit is linked to a six-piece speaker system. The top-spec SX trim also comes with a wireless smartphone charger.
Platform & Chassis
The all-new 2025 Kia Carnival rides on the N3 platform which it shares with the Kia Sorento. For suspensions, it uses a MacPherson strut for the front, and a multi-link type for the rear. Braking is then handled by disc brakes for all four wheels. It also uses an electronic parking brake.
Engine & Drivetrain
Under the hood of the new 2025 Carnival is a 2.2-liter turbodiesel engine capable of producing up to 200 horsepower and 440 Nm of torque. Power is then sent to the model’s front wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Locally, the 2025 Kia Carnival has a total of three different color options. These include Astra Blue, Snow White Pearl, and Aurora Black Pearl.
The Kia Carnival has shaped up to become one of the more feature-rich and high-tech the Korean brand offers locally. And yes, it also has a very comprehensive safety kit, which rivals other locally available premium models. Power-wise, it also gets a diesel engine, which we all know is used sparingly in other vehicles of its class. Well, at least in the Philippines.
Kia Carnival 2025 Price List
| Variants | Price |
|---|---|
| Kia Carnival 2.2 EX Diesel AT | ₱2,888,000 |
| Kia Carnival 2.2 SX Diesel AT | ₱3,368,000 |
Kia Carnival Pros & Cons
Pros
- Diesel engine
- Loads of features and on-board tech
- Roomy
- Macho but elegant styling
Cons
- Its size might intimidate new drivers
₱ 2,640,000 - ₱ 3,088,000
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