Pyeonghwa Motors
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| Company type | State-owned company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Pyongyang , North Korea |
Area served | North Korea, Vietnam |
Key people | Park Sang-Kwon, CEO and Chairman[1] |
| Products | Automobiles |
| Owner | Ryonbong Unification Church |
Pyeonghwa Motors (Hangul : 평화자동차; Hancha : 平和自動車 – a Korean language word for "peace"),[2] also spelled Pyonghwa, is one of the two car manufacturers and dealers in the North Korean automotive industry, alongside Sungri Motor Plant. Until 2013, it was a joint venture in Nampo between Pyonghwa Motors of Seoul (South Korea), a company owned by Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church, and the North Korean Ryonbong General Corp. The joint venture produced small cars under licence from Fiat and Brilliance China Auto,[3] a pickup truck and an SUV using complete knock down kits from Chinese manufacturer Dandong Shuguang, and a luxury car of SsangYong design.[citation needed] From 2013, the company has been fully owned by the North Korean state.[4]
Pyeonghwa has the exclusive rights to car production, purchase, and sale of used cars in North Korea. However, most North Koreans are unable to afford a car. Because of the very small market for cars in the country, Pyeonghwa's output is reportedly very low: in 2003, only 314 cars were produced even though the factory had the facilities to produce up to 10,000 cars a year.[5]
Erik van Ingen Schenau, author of the book Automobiles Made in North Korea, has estimated the company's total production in 2005 at not more than around 400 units.[6]
History
[edit]Pyeonghwa Motors was officially founded by the Unification Church.[7] The venture came during the period of the Sunshine Policy between North and South Korea, when sanctions on the country were not as tough.[8] The venture was announced in 2000.[citation needed]
In 2002, around $55 million was set aside to build the factory,[7][9] with which the first production line in Nampo was completed and the first Hwiparam was produced.[citation needed] The Premio and Pronto were later introduced in 2004.
In 2009, PM earned about $700,000 from the sale of 650 cars, with $500,000 remitted to South Korea.[7][9] Park Sang-Kwon, Pyeonghwa Motors president, started talks to end investment in 2012.[9]
The Unification Church officially transferred all investment to Pyongyang in 2013.[4]
Model list
[edit]
| Model | Production | Status | Body style | Country of production |
| Hwiparam | 2002 to 2006 | Mass production | Saloon | North Korea |
| Hwiparam II | since 2005 | Import | Saloon | China |
| Hwiparam III | since 2011 | Import | Saloon | China |
| Junma | 2005 to 2006 | Import | Saloon | North Korea |
| Paso 990 | since 2011 | Mass production | Minivan | Vietnam |
| Ppeokkugi | 2003 to 2004 | Mass production | Van | North Korea |
| Ppeokkugi II | since 2004 | Mass production | SUV | North Korea |
| Ppeokkugi III | since 2004 | Mass production | SUV and Pick-up | North Korea |
| Ppeokkugi 4WD-A | since 2009 | Mass production | SUV | North Korea |
| Ppeokkugi 4WD-B | since 2009 | Mass production | SUV | North Korea |
| Ppeokkugi 4WD-C | since 2009 | Mass production | SUV and Pick-up | Vietnam |
| Premio DX | 2004 to 2009 | Mass production | SUV and Pick-up | Vietnam |
| Premio DX II | since 2009 | Mass production | SUV and Pick-up | Vietnam |
| Premio MAX | since 2004 | Mass production | SUV and Pick-up | Vietnam |
| Pronto DX | 2004 to 2009 | Mass production | SUV | Vietnam |
| Pronto GS | since 2009 | Mass production | SUV | Vietnam |
| Samchunri | since 2005 | Import | Mid-size van | China |
| Zunma | since 2008 | Mass production | Saloon | North Korea |
| Zunma 1606 | since 2013 (?) | Import | Saloon | China |
| Zunma 2008 | since 2013 (?) | Import | Saloon | China |
- Hwiparam I, 2000, based on the Fiat Siena.[10]
- Hwiparam II, 2007, based on the Brilliance Junjie/BS4/M2.[10]
- Hwiparam III, 2010, based on the Brilliance FSV.[10]
- Bbeokgugi (Peokkugi) 1, 2003, based on the Fiat Doblò.[10] Known to keep the Fiat vehicle badge.[11]
- Bbeokgugi (Peokkugi) 2, 2004, based on the Shuguang SUV 4x2.[10]
- Bbeokgugi (Peokkugi) 3, 2004, based on the Shuguang Huanghai.[10]
- Bbeokgugi (Peokkugi) 4, 2005, based on the Shuguang Dawn.[10]
- Junma(Zunma), 2005, based on the SsangYong Chairman.[10]
- Junma (Zunma 1606), 2013, based on the FAW-Volkswagen Sagitar.[10]
- Junma (Zunma 2008), 2013, based on the FAW-Volkswagen Magotan[12][13]
- Samcheonri, 2005, based on the Jinbei Haise.[10]
Further models and partnerships
[edit]In summer 2006, the North Korean government magazine Foreign Trade, which advertises North Korean products, published a photograph of a new luxury car produced by Pyeonghwa, the Junma,[14] which appears to be a rebadged version of the South Korean SsangYong Chairman.[15][16]
The Junma bears a strong resemblance to SsangYong cars, specifically the Chairman, which are favored by North Korean government officials.[2] The Chairman is based on an old Mercedes E-Class design.[17]
In 2006, Pyeonghwa reached an agreement with Chinese manufacturer Brilliance China Auto to assemble its Jinbei Haise vans, which are based on an old version of the Toyota HiAce.[18][19]
In 2007, Pyeonghwa introduced Brilliance's Junjie car under the name Hwiparam II. The original Fiat-based Hwiparam has appeared on Pyeonghwa's web site.[20]
In 2009, Pyeonghwa announced a profit on its North Korean operations.[21]
The Premio and Pronto are also sold in Vietnam by Mekong Auto.[22] Both are based on Huanghai vehicles. Mekong Auto has sold Fiat cars in Vietnam since 1995, and this relationship may have led to Pyeonghwa assembling Fiats in North Korea.[citation needed]
Advertising
[edit]Pyeonghwa is currently the only company in North Korea to advertise. A series of billboards and TV commercials have been made in an effort to show residents that their country is able to produce products such as motor vehicles. The ads may be aimed primarily at expatriate businessmen in Pyongyang, but Car and Driver magazine suggests that they are actually propaganda aimed at the local population, to make them believe that their country is economically successful.[23]
-
Pyonghwa Motors billboard showing the Hwiparam. -
An advertising board of "Pyeonghwa Motors" in Pyongyang.
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "Interview of Sang Gwon Park, President of North Korea's Pyeonghwa Motors". www.tparents.org.
- ^ a b Berkowitz, Justin (August 13, 2010). "Cars from North Korea: Axis of Evil". Car and Driver.
- ^ "Pyongwha Fiparam, el utilitario que anima la industria del automóvil de la RPDC" (in Spanish). Choson Digest. Archived from the original on 2011-08-08. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
- ^ a b Power, John (2 November 2015). "Yes, North Korea makes cars, and here are the latest models". Mashable.
- ^ "The Chosun Ilbo (English Edition): Daily News from Korea". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "China Car Forums — View Single Post — Pyeonghwa Motors (DPRK) and Mekong (Vietnam)". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ a b c Ramstad, Evan (November 27, 2012). "End of the Road for North Korean Auto Maker?". The Wall Street Journal -Korea RealTime. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
- ^ "North Korean Cars: Pyonghwa Motors". Visit North Korea. 2019-06-24. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
- ^ a b c "Unification Church to wind up auto venture in NK". Yonhap News Agency. 2012-11-28. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Pyeonghwa Motors Official Page". pyeonghwamotors.com. Archived from the original on 2013-04-08.
- ^ "pyeonghwa motors corporation: North Korea has its own automaker that you may know nothing about — Times of India". The Times of India. 2 April 2017.
- ^ "ZUNMA 2008 | chinesecars". www.chinesecars.net. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ Text on all sources online for the Zunma 2008 is wrong, the CC is not shown, instead the Chinese FAW-Volkswagen Magotan, can be compared with Magotan images online.
- ^ "www.kcckp.net / server maintenance". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "Ssangyong Chairman Limousine 4d". Global Auto Index. Global Auto Systems Europe Kft. Archived from the original on 11 March 2008. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "Google Translate". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ Hevesy, Alex (July 13, 2015). "Yes, even North Korea has its own luxury car brand". Autoweek.
- ^ "Pyeonghwa Motors (DPRK) and Mekong (Vietnam) - China Car Forums". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "www.kcckp.net / server maintenance". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "Chinese cars abroad — Page 5 - China Car Forums". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ Pyeonghwa Sells in North Korea, Wall Street Journal, July 16, 2009
- ^ Mekong. "Mekong — Tin tức". Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ Berkowitz, Justin (August 2010), "Cars from the "Axis of Evil": North Korea", Car and Driver, archived from the original on 2010-09-05, retrieved 2010-09-08
External links
[edit]
- Official website
- Pyongwha brochure (PDF) on the Korean Friendship Association website
- Photos of North Korean vehicles including Pyeonghwa models, compiled by the author of Automobiles Made in North Korea
- Pyeonghwa Motors video advertisement
- Location of Pyeonghwa motors plant in Nampo: 38°45′15″N 125°24′20″E / 38.754284°N 125.405438°E
| Companies |
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| Related topics | |||||||||||||
| Active national brands | |
|---|---|
| Defunct brands | |
| Related topics | |
- Nampo
- Unification Church affiliated organizations
- Unification Church controversies
- Car manufacturers of North Korea
- Manufacturing companies based in Seoul
- Luxury motor vehicle manufacturers
- Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1999
- North Korea–South Korea relations
- Government-owned companies of North Korea
- 1999 establishments in North Korea