Pyeonghwa Motors (

Hangul The Korean alphabet, known as Hangul, . Hangul may also be written as following South Korea's standard Romanization. ( ) in South Korea and Chosŏn'gŭl in North Korea, is the modern official writing system for the Korean language. The l ...

: 평화자동차) (

Hancha Hanja (Hangul: ; Hanja: , ), alternatively known as Hancha, are Chinese characters () used in the writing of Korean. Hanja was used as early as the Gojoseon period, the first ever Korean kingdom. (, ) refers to Sino-Korean vocabulary, ...

: 平和自動車), a

Korean language Korean (South Korean: , ''hangugeo''; North Korean: , ''chosŏnmal'') is the native language for about 80 million people, mostly of Korean descent. It is the official and national language of both North Korea and South Korea (geographica ...

word for "

peace Peace is a concept of societal friendship and harmony in the absence of hostility and violence. In a social sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (such as war) and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups. ...

", also spelled Pyonghwa, is one of the two car manufacturers and dealers in the North Korean automotive industry, alongside

Sungri Motor Plant Sungri Motor Plant is a 600,000 m2 vehicle factory in the city of Tokchon (덕천), North Korea. It was the most capable plant of the North Korean automotive industry before being surpassed by Pyeonghwa Motors. The plant produces urban and ...

. Until 2013, it was a joint venture in

Nampo Nampo (North Korean official spelling: Nampho; ), also spelled Namp'o, is the second largest city by population and an important seaport in North Korea, which lies on the northern shore of the Taedong River, 15 km east of the river's mouth ...

between Pyonghwa Motors of

Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the Capital city, capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the North Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea ...

(

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

), a company owned by

Sun Myung Moon Sun Myung Moon (; born Yong Myung Moon; 6 January 1920 – 3 September 2012) was a Korean religious leader, also known for his business ventures and support for conservative political causes. A messiah claimant, he was the founder of the Un ...

Unification Church The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, widely known as the Unification Church, is a new religious movement, whose members are called Unificationists, or " Moonies". It was officially founded on 1 May 1954 under the name Holy Sp ...

, and the

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu (Amnok) and T ...

n Ryonbong General Corp. The joint venture produced small cars under licence from

Fiat Fiat Automobiles S.p.A. (, , ; originally FIAT, it, Fabbrica Italiana Automobili di Torino, lit=Italian Automobiles Factory of Turin) is an Italian automobile manufacturer, formerly part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and since 2021 a subsidiar ...

and

Brilliance China Auto Huachen Automotive Group Holdings Co. Ltd., known for its brand name Brilliance Auto Group, was a Chinese multinational automobile manufacturer holding company headquartered in Shenyang. Its products include automobiles, microvans, and automotive ...

, a

pickup truck A pickup truck or pickup is a light-duty truck that has an enclosed cabin, and a back end made up of a cargo bed that is enclosed by three low walls with no roof (this cargo bed back end sometimes consists of a tailgate and removable covering) ...

and an SUV using

complete knock down A knock-down kit (also knockdown kit, knocked-down kit, or simply knockdown or KD) is a collection of parts required to assemble a product. The parts are typically manufactured in one country or region, then exported to another country or region ...

kits from Chinese manufacturer Dandong Shuguang, and a luxury car of SsangYong design. From 2013, the company has been fully owned by the North Korean state. 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. 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.

History

Pyeonghwa Motors was officially founded by the

. The venture came during the period of the

Sunshine Policy The Sunshine Policy () is the theoretical basis for South Korea's foreign policy towards North Korea. Its official title is The Reconciliation and Cooperation Policy Towards the North (), and it is also known as The Operational Policy Towards the ...

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 to build the factory, with the first production line in Nampo was completed and the first Hwiparam was produced The Premio and Pronto introduced in 2004. In 2009, PM earned about $700,000 from the sale of 650 cars, $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.

Model list

* ''Hwiparam'' I, 2000, based on the

Fiat Siena The Fiat Siena is a subcompact car produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat from 1996 to 2022. It is the four-door sedan version of the Fiat Palio, a supermini car especially designed for developing countries. It was introduced for the first t ...

. * ''Hwiparam'' II, 2007, based on the Brilliance Junjie/BS4/M2. * ''Hwiparam'' III, 2010, based on the Brilliance FSV. * ''Bbeokgugi (Peokkugi)'' 1, 2003, based on the

Fiat Doblò The Fiat Doblò is a panel van and leisure activity vehicle produced by Italian automaker Fiat since 2000. It was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October 2000. A second-generation Doblò succeeded the original vehicle in 2010 for most market ...

. 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. * ''Junma'', 2005-2006, series production of the Junma, based on the

SsangYong Chairman The SsangYong Chairman is a full-size luxury car that was manufactured by South Korean automaker SsangYong from 1997 to 2017. The original model was renamed Chairman H in 2008, with a new model introduced in the same year and designated Chairm ...

. * ''Junma'' (Zunma 1606), 2013, based on the FAW-

Volkswagen Sagitar The Volkswagen Jetta () is a compact car/small family car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen since 1979. Positioned to fill a sedan (automobile), sedan niche above the firm's Volkswagen Golf, Golf hatchback, it has been marketed over seven ...

. * ''Junma'' (Zunma 2008), 2013, based on the FAW-

Volkswagen CC The Volkswagen CC, originally marketed as the Volkswagen Passat CC in its first generation, is a variant of the Volkswagen Passat that trades headroom and cargo space for a coupé-like profile and sweeping roofline. The CC debuted in January 200 ...

* ''Samcheonri'', 2005, based on the

Jinbei Haise The Jinbei Haise (金杯海狮) is a 4-door mid-size van produced by Chinese auto maker Jinbei. The Jinbei Haise started out as a licensed rebadged Toyota HiAce The (pronounced "High Ace") is a light commercial vehicle produced by the Jap ...

Further models and partnerships

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, which appears to be a rebadged version of the South Korean

. The Chairman bears a strong resemblance to SsangYong cars, which are favored by North Korean government officials. The Junma is based on an old Mercedes E-Class design. In 2006, Pyeonghwa reached an agreement with Chinese manufacturer

to assemble its

Jinbei A (alternately or ) is a traditional set of Japanese clothing worn by men, women and children during summer. Consisting of a side-tying, tube-sleeved kimono-style top and a pair of trousers, were originally menswear only, though in recent ...

Haise vans, which are based on an old version of the

Toyota HiAce The (pronounced "High Ace") is a light commercial vehicle produced by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. First launched in October 1967, the HiAce has since been available in a wide range of body configurations, including a minivan/ ...

. 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 Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...

Mekong Auto Mekong Auto Corporation headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is a car manufacturer and assembler founded in 1991. The first car was built at the Delta Auto Plant on May 20, 1992. Japanese Saeilo Machinery Japan Inc. is the major shareholder ...

. 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

to advertise. A series of

billboards A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

and

TV commercials A television advertisement (also called a television commercial, TV commercial, commercial, spot, television spot, TV spot, advert, television advert, TV advert, television ad, TV ad or simply an ad) is a span of television programming produce ...

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 ''Car and Driver'' (''CD'' or ''C/D'') is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. In 2006 its total circulation was 1.23 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011. It was fou ...

'' 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 Pyongyang (, , ) is the capital and largest city of North Korea, where it is known as the "Capital of the Revolution". Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River about upstream from its mouth on the Yellow Sea. According to the 2008 populatio ...

References

External links

*
Pyongwha brochure
(

PDF Portable Document Format (PDF), standardized as ISO 32000, is a file format developed by Adobe in 1992 to present documents, including text formatting and images, in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems. ...

) on the

Korean Friendship Association The Korean Friendship Association (KFA, es, Asociación de Amistad con Corea) is a Spain-based friendship association with North Korea. The KFA was established in November 2000. It claims to have official representatives in 34 countries. The KFA ...

website
Photos of North Korean vehicles
including Pyeonghwa models, compiled by the author of ''

Automobiles Made in North Korea A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport people instead of goods. The year 1886 is regarded as ...

''
Pyeonghwa Motors video advertisement
* Location of Pyeonghwa motors plant in Nampo: {{DEFAULTSORT:Pyeonghwa Motors 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