Pyeonghwa Motors

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]

 

• 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]

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]}

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]

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  Pyonghwa Motors billboard showing the Hwiparam.
•  
  An advertising board of "Pyeonghwa Motors" in Pyongyang.

• Unification Church and North Korea

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pyeonghwa Motors.

• 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 / 38.754284; 125.405438