Minicar Sales Slump in S. Korea

Sales of minicars in South Korea sagged in September to a 10-year-low of 8,600 units, according to domestic producers.

Full-year demand for such cars—most of them powered by 1.0-liter engines—fell 26% to 138,900 units in 2017, the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Assn. says. KAMA explains that consumers are opting for larger imported cars and SUV/crossover vehicles.

Minicars such as the Kia Morning (pictured) also have lost some of their tax advantages, the newspaper points out. It asserts that such low-margin models have become less appealing because carmakers have limited investments to update them.