Pyeonghwa Motors

History

Pyeonghwa Motors was officially founded by the Unification Church. The venture came during the period of the Sunshine Policy between North and South Korea, when sanctions on the country were not as tough. The venture was announced in 2000.

In 2002, around $55 million was set aside to build the factory, with which the first production line in Nampo was completed and the first Hwiparam was produced. 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. Park Sang-Kwon, Pyeonghwa Motors president, started talks to end investment in 2012.

The Unification Church officially transferred all investment to Pyongyang in 2013.

Production

Pyeonghwa holds the exclusive rights to car production, as well as the purchase and sale of used cars in North Korea. However, most North Koreans are unable to afford a car. Due to the very small market for cars in the country, Pyeonghwa's output is reportedly quite low; in 2003, only 314 cars were produced, despite the factory's capacity to produce up to 10,000 cars per year.

Model list

Hwiparam model range

• Hwiparam I, 2000, based on the Fiat Siena.
• Hwiparam II, 2007, based on the Brilliance Junjie/BS4/M2.
• Hwiparam 1504/Hwiparam III, 2010, based on the Brilliance FSV.
• Hwiparam 1506, based on the FAW Oley
• Hwiparam 1518, based on the Brilliance H330
• Hwiparam 1607, 2013, rebadged first generation Volkswagen Jetta from the Chinese market
• Hwiparam 1610 , based on the Besturn B50
• Hwiparam 1613, 2013, rebadged second generation Volkswagen Jetta from the Chinese market
• Hwiparam 2005, based on the Brilliance BS6
• Hwiparam 2009, based on the Besturn B90

Bbeokgugi model range

• Bbeokgugi (Peokkugi) 1, 2003, based on the Fiat Doblò. Known to keep the Fiat vehicle badge.
• Bbeokgugi (Peokkugi) 2, 2004, based on the Shuguang SUV 4x2.
• Bbeokgugi (Peokkugi) 3, 2004, based on the Shuguang Huanghai.
• Bbeokgugi (Peokkugi) 4, 2005, based on the Shuguang Dawn.
• Bbeokgugi 1507, based on the Great Wall Voleex C10
• Bbeokgugi 1509, based on the FAW Senya S80
• Bbeokgugi 1515, based on the Beijing Auto E150EV
• Bbeokgugi 2008, based on the Beijing Jeep Zhanqi BJ2024
• Bbeokgugi 2013, based on the Bestune X80
• Bbeokgugi 2015, based on the Haval H9
• Bbeokgugi 2019, based on the first generation Haval H5
• Bbeokgugi 2021, based on the first generation Haval H5
• Bbeokgugi 2406, based on the first generation Haval H5
• Bbeokgugi 2417, based on the Changfeng Liebao Q6

Samcheonri model range

• Samcheonri 0102/Samcheonri I, 2005, based on the Jinbei Haise van.
• Samcheonri 0107, based on the King Long Jinwei high roof van
• Samcheonri 0606, based on the King Long Jinwei ambulance
• Samcheonri 0708, based on the Jiabao V52 7-seater
• Samcheonri 0711, based on the Jiabao V80
• Samcheonri 0711, based on the JAC Refine M5
• Samcheonri 0808, based on the Jiabao V52 8-seater
• Samcheonri 0901, based on the Jinbei Haise
• Samcheonri 0903, based on the Jinbei Haise
• Samcheonri 0904, based on the King Long Jinwei 9-seater high roof van
• Samcheonri 1105, based on the King Long Jinwei 11-seater high roof van
• Samcheonri 2103, based on the Jinbei Haise

Changjeon model range

• Changjeon 0208, based on a Huanghai bus model
• Changjeon 1610, based on the Maxus V80
• Changjeon 1703, based on the King Long Kaige 17 seater minibus
• Changjeon 1902, based on the Toyota Coaster
• Changjeon 2103, based on the King Long Kaige 21 seater minibus
• Changjeon 2302 based on a King Long coach model with 23 seats
• Changjeon 3001, based on a King Long coach model with 30 seats
• Changjeon 3019, based on the Higer KLQ6758

Zunma model range

• Zunma, 2005, based on the SsangYong Chairman.
• Zunma 1606, 2013, based on the FAW-Volkswagen Sagitar.
• Zunma 1811, based on the Bestune B70
• Zunma 2008, 2013, based on the FAW-Volkswagen Magotan

Further models and partnerships

In summer 2006, the North Korean government magazine Foreign Trade of the DPRK, which advertises North Korean products, published a photograph of a new luxury car produced by Pyeonghwa, the Junma, which appears to be a rebadged version of the South Korean SsangYong Chairman.

The Junma bears a strong resemblance to SsangYong cars, specifically the Chairman, which are favored by North Korean government officials. The Chairman is based on an old Mercedes E-Class design.

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.

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.

In 2009, Pyeonghwa announced a profit on its North Korean operations.

The Premio and Pronto are also sold in Vietnam by Mekong Auto. 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.

Advertising

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. File:Pyonghwa motors billboard.jpg|Pyonghwa Motors billboard showing the Hwiparam. File:Pyonghwa Pyongyang.JPG|An advertising board of "Pyeonghwa Motors" in Pyongyang.

References

References

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