Automotive industry in North Korea

The North Korean automobile industry is one of the branches of national economy with production a hundreds times smaller than one in South Korea. North Korean motor vehicle production has a military, industrial and construction goals mainly, private car ownership by citizens not allowed (all cars are serving a government officials), so an issue of trucks a long times multiply exceeded of car manufacturing unlike to most other automobile countries-producents. Besides of all range of cars and trucks North Korea products a buses, trolleybuses and trams.

DPRK is not a member to, nor do they collaborate with the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles, or any other United Nations industrial committee, so information about its motor vehicle industry is extremely limited and unreliable. OICA does not publicize any figures of automobile production in the DPRK amongst other countries. As reported by a limited number of observers with first-hand knowledge, North Korea has the capability to produce 40 to 50,000 vehicles a year, but within the past few years, only a few thousand vehicles have been produced in North Korea due to their on-going economic crisis.

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Sungri/Jaju-82 truck on a stamp

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Pyeonghwa Hwiparam Ia (Fiat Premio) car at a advertising poster in Vietnam

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New Sonyon articulated trolleybus at line

History

The North Korean automobile industry has Soviet origins. The DPRK began motor vehicle production with licenses obtained from the USSR. The Soviet Union provided assistance in building automotive plants in the country which were then equipped with technology developed by the Soviet Union. North Korea's first domestically-produced automobiles were full copies of Soviet designs such as the GAZ-51 midi truck, GAZ 69 off-road four-wheel drive vehicle and GAZ-M20 Pobeda passenger car.

In more recent times, North Korean vehicles have been copies of foreign vehicles through reverse engineering. The DPRK has purchased vehicles such as Mercedes-Benz W124 and Jeep) and then reproduced these vehicles without first obtaining the appropriate licenses.

North Korea has also started exporting some of its domestically produced vehicles to other countries, most notably Vietnam. Mekong Auto sells Fiat licensed vehicles to Vietnam.

Automotive companies

Sungri Motor Plant

Sungri Motor Plant in Tokchon since 1950 is the first and more powerful nation's motor vehicle plant that products a urban and off-road passenger cars, a small, midi and heavy cargo, construction and off-road trucks and a buses at names Sungri, Jaju and others.

Pyeonghwa Motors

Pyeonghwa Motors in Nampo is founded in 2000 car manufacturing and dealing joint-venture between Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church's South Korean Pyonghwa Motors company and the North Korean Ryonbong General Corp. Pyeonghwa Motors products by small series at names Hwiparam, Bbeokgugi (Peokkugi), Zunma a small and luxury cars, minivans, SUVs and pick-up trucks under licenses.

Pyongsang Auto Works

Pyongsang Auto Works in Pyongsang since 1968 took from the Sungri Motor Plant a production of Kaengsaeng and Kaengsaeng NA models - modified Sungri-4.10 4x4 car (a GAZ 69 and Jeep combination) and modified Sungri-4.25 4x4 pick-up. Later in 1970s it began a production of Taebaeksan and Tujaeng light trucks also.

March 30th Works

March 30 Works since 1982 products the heavy 100-ton Konsor-100 dumper.

Chongjin Bus Works

Chongjin Bus Works in Chongjin since 1974 produced Jipsam 74, Chongnyonjunwi, Chongjin trolleybuses, Jipsam 86 articulated trolleybuses, Pyongyang 9.25, Jipsam 86, 88 buses.

Pyongyang Trolleybus Works

Pyongyang Trolleybus Works in Pyongyang since 1961 produced Chollima 1, 2, 9.11, 9.25, 70, 72, 74, 84, Chongnyon, Chongnyonjunwi, Ikarus 260T, Chollima 032 trolleybuses, Chollima 962, 90/903, Ikarus 280T, Sonyon articulated trolleybuses, Pyongyang 9.25 buses, Kwangboksonyon articulated buses, and Chollima mini buses.

Kim Jong Tae Locomotive Works

Kim Jong Tae Locomotive Works in Pyongyang products a modified Czech Tatra KT4 trams since 1990s.

External links

References

Automobiles Made in North Korea, Seventh edition: February 2010