Cars of North Korea: Pyonghwa part 2

May 2013, 36 new Pyonghwa’s…

The history of Pyonghwa part 2 (after the end of the joint venture, 2012-today).

Of course we had to wait what was going to happen after the withdraw of the Moon section. A new partner was not obvious. It would also be hard for the North Koreans to continue without foreign money and technology.

At the 16th Pyongyang Spring International Trade Fair, the DPRK surprised with 36 (!!!) new Pyonghwa models. A clearer study of the vehicles confirmed that they were all Chinese made vehicles, rebadged with Pyonghwa logos and names.

The new cars were accompanied with an amazing number of one-page leaflets.

Your author informed at FAW (First Auto Works) in Changchun, China. Many cars were made by them or by their joint-venture with Volkswagen. They told him that all the cars were collected by an FAW car dealer in Shenyang named Liaoning Huihua Corporation. This company had even taken care of the Pyonghwa badges.

Pyonghwa introduced a new naming system, using the classic names (Hwiparam, Zunma, Ppeokkugi, Samchonri) , completed with some new names: Changjeon (medium and big buses), Ssangma (trucks of all sizes) and Rungnado (large bus). They were followed by four-digit numbers, of which the first two are based on either engine capacity (Hwiparam, Ppeokkugi, Zunma; 15= 1.5lt), or number of seats (Samcheonri, Changjeon, Rungnado; 07= 7 seats) or gross vehicle weight (Ssangma; 02= 2ton)

Careful study of the vehicles resulted in this list, update till September 26:
(This list is longer than the original 36 items, it is regurarly subject to updates and additions.)

Hwiparam 1504 is Brilliance FSV (also named Hwiparam III)
Hwiparam 1516 is FAW Oley
Hwiparam 1518 is Brilliance H330
Hwiparam 1607 is FAW-Volkswagen Jetta old model
Hwiparam 1610 is FAW Besturn B50 old model
Hwiparam 1613 is FAW-Volkswagen Jetta NF
Hwiparam 2005 is Brilliance Zunchi
Hwiparam 2009 is FAW Besturn B90

Ppeokkugi 1507 is Great Wall C20R
Ppeokkugi 1509 is FAW Senya S80
Ppeokkugi 1515 is Beijing E150
Ppeokkugi 2008 is Beijing Jeep Zhanqi BJ2024
Ppeokkugi 2013 is FAW Besturn X80
Ppeokkugi 2015 is Great Wall Haval H5-T
Ppeokkugi 2019 is Great Wall Haval
Ppeokkugi 2021 is Great Wall Haval
Ppeokkugi 2405 is Huanghai CUV Landscape (also named Ppeokkugi Premio)
Ppeokkugi 2406 is Great Wall Haval H5-E
Ppeokkugi 2417 is Leopaard Heijingang Q6
Samcheonri 0102 is Jinbei Hi Ace (van) (also named Samchonri I)
Samcheonri 0107 is King Long Haishe High Roof (van)
Samcheonri 0606 is King Long Haishe High Roof (ambulance)
Samcheonri 0708 is FAW Jiabao V52 7 sts
Samcheonri 0711 is FAW Jiabao V80 7 sts
Samcheonri 0713 is JAC Refine M5
Samcheonri 0808 is FAW Jiabao V52 8 sts
Samcheonri 0901 is Jinbei Haishi
Samcheonri 0903 is Jinbei Haishi
Samcheonri 0904 is King Long Haishe 9 sts
Samcheonri 1105 is King Long Haishe 11 sts
Samchun 2103 is Jinbei

Pyonghwa Chanjeon 3019 (Higer KLQ6758))

Changjeon 0208 is Huanghai Bus
Changjeon 1610 is Maxus V80
Changjeon 1703 is King Long Kingo 17 sts
Changjeon 1902 is Toyota Coaster type bus
Changjeon 2103 is King Long Kingo 21 sts
Changjeon 2302 is King Long 23 sts Coach
Changjeon 3001 is King Long 30 sts Coach
Changjeon 3019 is Higer KLQ6758

Zunma 1606 is FAW-Volkswagen Sagitar
Zunma 1811 is FAW Besturn B70 (?)
Zunma 2008 is FAW-Volkswagen CC
Ssangma 0104 is Huanghai Plutus
Ssangma 0108 is Beijing Jeep Zhanqi (dc) BJ2032
Ssangma 0109 is Huanghai N2 4×2 RWD
Ssangma 0110 is Huanghai N2 4×4
Ssangma 0201 is FAW Xiao Jiefang
Ssangma 0202 is Jinbei 2ton truck (dc) or FAW Xiao Jiefang (?)
Ssangma 0303 is Jinbei 3 ton truck (van) or FAW XIao Jiefang (?)
Ssangma 0304 is Jinbei 3 ton truck (box) or FAW Xiao Jiefang (?)
Ssangma 0314 is Dongfeng Duolika (dc)
Ssangma 0505 is FAW Jiefang Hu V 5 ton truck (open)
Ssangma 1006 is FAW Jiefang Junwei J5K 10 ton truck (open)
Ssangma 2008 is FAW Jiefang J6 20 ton truck (dumper) (also named Pyongun Chonmalli 20 ton)
Rungnado 5101 is Huanghai bus

Missing: (other cars with Pyonghwa logo)
Beijing Weiwang Yusheng BW007
Polarsun Hi Ace
Beijing BJ40 (Ppeokkugi)
FAW Besturn New B50
FAW Junpai A70
FAW Toyota Corolla
BYD F3 Classic
BYD Surui
BYD Qin Pro
Dongfeng Nissan Sylphy/Sentra
Dongfeng Nissan Teana
Lifan 820
Lada XRay

Some of the vehicles we already know from the joint venture have got a new number: the Hwiparam III (now Hwiparam 1504), Ppeokkugi Premio (Ppeokkugi 2405), Samchonri I (Samcheonri 0102).

When asked the North Koreans present at the Trade Fair they persisted that the cars were made IN the DPRK.
A friend of mine reacted: “Looks like PMC (Pyonghwa), like computer hardware/parts shops in Asian bazaars, is importing anything and everything they can lay their hands on and pretty soon they can boast of a line-up with more models than the number Toyota sells worldwide, although it is true some of the vehicles listed above are not even sold in China anymore 🙂

Which raises the questions: what about after-sales service? What happens when a minor or major repair is needed? Do they stock all spares? Are mechanics flown in from China? Do they have equipment on hand, of vastly different specifications, to service all of these different models? Are the damaged cars transported back to China, to the respective manufacturers’ service centres?”

In September 2014 American Raymond Cunningham visited the just opened ”Pyeonghwa Motors Showroom”, Kwangbok Street in Mangyongdae-guyok. The showroom harbours about 10 different Pyonghwa vehicles, all from the list with Chinese cars above. Other foreigners including journalists like Eric Tseng and Eric Talmadge followed and “they were impressed by the high level of the North Korean automotive industry”(sic).

The showroom is open for visitors, including tourists. Koryotour describes it here: https://koryogroup.com/travel-guide/pyeonghwa-motors-dealership-north-korea-travel-guide.

Unfortunately there was over the years nihil activity at the Pyonghwa factory site in Nampo itself. Aerial photos of the facility, in the joint-venture period full of activity, showed empty roads and an empty parking place.

In November 2019 a Japanese who calls himself Jeje Noby made some pictures of new cars outside the factory. I recognize 4 Ppeokkugi 2405 (Ppeokkugi II), 7 Hwiparam 1504 (Hwiparam III), and a Beijing Weiwang Yusheng BW007 which was shown to the photographer. The Ppeokkugi and the Hwiparam were cars which were assembled during the joint-venture, as I suppose the line is still there, I think that these new cars were recently assembled.

Besides the number of Hi Ace minibuses North Korea seems to increase, which can be a result of local assembly.

You can see that I am very careful to draw conclusions but it seems that the DPRK continues to assemble some Chinese cars, the same as before, on a very low scale.

There some other activities in North Korea, joint-ventures with Chinese companies to produce cars and commercial vehicles. Partly the joint-ventures will make the future. Which role Pyonghwa will play is uncertain. The best would to find another partner. Difficult within the light of the trade embargo. Hope that embargo will be lifted soon.

You can read this article (the same text, but different and less photos at:
https://koryogroup.com/blog/the-history-of-pyeonghwa-motors-part-2-2012-present

A summary of the North Korean automobiles here:
https://www.chinesecars.net/free-information/made-north-korea.

My book about North Korean automobiles:
https://www.chinesecars.net/content/automobiles-made-north-korea.