Buyers looking for an affordable Chinese alternative to the Kia Carnival are out of luck, at least in the short term.
The LDV Mifa People Mover has been removed from the Chinese brand’s local website.
“LDV Australia has paused the LDV Mifa for the time being as we continue to monitor the people mover market,” an LDV Australia spokesperson said.
“Of course, we will continue to support all of our LDV Mifa customers with spare parts and service across the entire LDV dealer network.”
This applies to both the petrol-powered Mifa and the electric Mifa 9.
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LDV Australia’s statement indicates the Mifa has not been discontinued, but it is unclear when it will go back on sale.
Despite undercutting Carnival, Mifa has failed to take off in Australia.
By the end of November, LDV had delivered 166 Mifas in Australia. The significantly more expensive, fully electric Mifa 9 only had three deliveries this year.
In the first full year of sales, 2023, LDV delivered 452 Mifas and 12 Mifa 9s, rising to 474 and 20 respectively by 2024.
But like every other model in the broader people mover segment, the Carnival has demolished its Chinese challenger.
Last year, Kia delivered a total of 10,080 Carnivals, which corresponds to a whopping 74 percent share of the entire people mover market. The mechanically related Hyundai Staria was a distant second with 1363 deliveries.
The Mifa 9 was the first electric people carrier in Australia, beating Mercedes-Benz and Chinese brand Zeekr.
A number of Chinese brands are now planning to launch electric or plug-in hybrid people movers in Australia, including Xpeng, GWM and Denza.
MORE: Discover the LDV Mifa showroom
