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| Company type | State-owned company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing |
| Founded | 1998; 27 years ago (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 – aKorean language word for "peace"),[2] also spelledPyonghwa, is one of the two car manufacturers and dealers in theNorth Korean automotive industry, alongsideSungri Motor Plant. Until 2013, it was a joint venture inNampo between Pyonghwa Motors ofSeoul (South Korea), a company owned bySun Myung Moon'sUnification Church, and theNorth KoreanRyonbong General Corp. The joint venture produced small cars under licence fromFiat andBrilliance China Auto,[3] apickup truck and anSUV usingcomplete knock down kits from Chinese manufacturerDandong Shuguang, and a luxury car ofSsangYong design.[citation needed] From 2013, the company has been fully owned by the North Korean state.[4]
Erik van Ingen Schenau, author of the bookAutomobiles Made in North Korea, has estimated the company's total production in 2005 at not more than around 400 units.[5]
Pyeonghwa Motors was officially founded by theUnification Church.[6] The venture came during the period of theSunshine Policy between North and South Korea, when sanctions on the country were not as tough.[7] The venture was announced in 2000.[citation needed]
In 2002, around $55 million was set aside to build the factory,[6][8] 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.[6][8] Park Sang-Kwon, Pyeonghwa Motors president, started talks to end investment in 2012.[8]
The Unification Church officially transferred all investment to Pyongyang in 2013.[4]
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.[9]
| 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 |
In summer 2006, the North Korean government magazineForeign Trade of the DPRK, which advertises North Korean products, published a photograph of a new luxury car produced by Pyeonghwa, theJunma,[16] which appears to be a rebadged version of the South KoreanSsangYong Chairman.[17][18]
The Junma bears a strong resemblance toSsangYong cars, specifically theChairman, which are favored by North Korean government officials.[2] The Chairman is based on an old MercedesE-Class design.[19]
In 2006, Pyeonghwa reached an agreement with Chinese manufacturerBrilliance China Auto to assemble itsJinbei Haise vans, which are based on an old version of theToyota HiAce.[20][21]
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.[22]
In 2009, Pyeonghwa announced a profit on its North Korean operations.[23]
The Premio and Pronto are also sold inVietnam byMekong Auto.[24] Both are based onHuanghai 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]
Pyeonghwa is currently the only company inNorth Korea to advertise. A series ofbillboards andTV 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, butCar and Driver magazine suggests that they are actually propaganda aimed at the local population, to make them believe that their country is economically successful.[25]
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