What Kind of Cars Can You Buy in North Korea?
A Glimpse into a Rarity of the Country’s Auto Market North Korea is one of the most reclusive countries in the world which has very few engagements with the world economy. This isolation applies to the car market, which remains very much closed to the outside and has developed on principles that are very different from those which govern the market in the rest of the world. The car industry in the North Korea is much limited compared to other countries in the world; however, there is a market for cars, but it is closely regulated and limited. In this blog you will learn more about the cars that are available in North Korea, how the car market works in the country with a highly centralized economy and what car brands can be found in North Korea.
1. Domestic Production: North Korea’s Own Brand Names
North Korea has its own automotive industries and manufactures only a few numbers of cars. Pyeonghwa Motors is the most famous of these companies; it was established jointly with South Korea’s Unification Church but is fully owned by the North Korean government today. Pyeonghwa Motors manufactures several models, including:
- Hwiparam: North Korea is not known for its passenger cars and the Hwiparam is one of the few built in their country and comes in both compact and sedan varieties. Due to local technological and material constraints, it is said to have been developed from older Chinese and European car models.
- Samcheonri: This is a class of light trucks and utility vehicles intended for the use in agriculture and business. Since South Korea is an agricultural country with strong military forces, vehicles such as the Samcheonri are important for the transport of produce and military supplies. It manufactures cars in small quantities and most of the cars which are manufactured are consumed by the government and other organizations. The vehicles manufactured by this company are quite simple in design as compared to the cars manufactured in other countries, having few features and old fashion look.
2. Foreign Cars in North Korea:
A Rare Sight Some of the automobiles used on North Korean roads include locally assembled vehicles and those imported from other countries, although only for the use of government officials, members of the military, or the rich. Chinese Brands: China is one the only trade partners of North Korea and thus, North Korea import cars from China. You can see vehicles made by Chinese companies such as FAW Group and Dongfeng in the capital of North Korea, Pyongyang. Some of these cars are used by government officials or by the military or for state business. However, the Chinese trucks and buses are also used in public transport services. European Luxury Cars: However, there are some pieces of information about the presence of luxury European cars in North Korea; they are mostly owned by high-ranking officials or their friends. Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen AG’s Audi and BMW have been seen in the North Korean capital Pyongyang, there are sanctions that prohibit the import of luxury goods into the country. Such cars are usually smuggled into the country through the back door.
3. Functions of Military and Government in the Auto Industry
North Korea is one of the countries where the government and military control the car market. Most of the vehicle manufacturing in the country is done to meet the requirements of military and other related government departments. Such types of vehicles as armored trucks, utility vehicles and military jeeps can be produced for military applications. Also, the government has reserved few for transport of goods and services especially in the agricultural and industrial sectors. For the general population, car ownership is nearly nonexistent because cars are expensive and the government regulates resources. The majority of people use public transport, bicycle or simply walk to get around the city. Most of the cars which are observed on the roads of the capital of North Korea are used for work, not for everyday riding.
4. How Does People Buy Cars in North Korea?
While in most other countries, one can easily get a car, purchasing a car in North Korea is very much controlled. For the ordinary Korean, owning a car is a pipe dream because the state monopolizes the supply of vehicles through production and distribution. Private car ownership is also mostly restricted to high ranking government officials, military personnel, and business tycoons and politicians who can afford to buy one. For those lucky people who can afford a car, one has to go through government procedure to get an approval and it is quite a complicated one. Also, the is expensive and unattainable to most North Koreans because the economy is heavily monitored and most people have low income earning.
5. Transport for the General Public
Given the high cost and inaccessibility of cars for most citizens, North Koreans rely heavily on public transportation, which includes: Buses and Trolleys: These are the most used public transport systems in Pyongyang and other large cities. They are usually old and packed to the brim but are still the most common means of transport for most people.
Taxis: Although they are not many, taxis can be found within Pyongyang. These are mostly Chinese made vehicles, and are mainly bought for use by tourists or affluent Kenyans. The people of the country also use bicycles as a mean of transport because they are cheaper and easily accessible than cars.
In this blog post, the authors provide an analysis of the North Korean automotive industry and the prospects for its future growth.
The political situation and economic difficulties of the country imply that the automotive industry of North Korea will not expand in the coming years. These sanctions still hinder the country from importing the necessary parts and technologies in the country and domestic production of the same is still poor. Nonetheless, North Korea has revealed intention of enhancing its ability to manufacture vehicles particularly for the government and military use. This means that, even if the general population will not witness a significant improvement in the access to cars in the near future, the regime will go on producing automobiles to meet its and not the population’s needs.
Conclusion
North Korea’s automobile market is also a good example of how closed off and socially controlled the country is. Although there are some local companies, like Pyeonghwa Motors, and some foreign cars which are smuggled into the country, car remains an unattainable luxury for the majority of the population. The government and the military use most of the vehicles while the rest of the population use public transport or bicycles. To the outside world, the North Korean automotive industry offers a rare look at how even seemingly mundane sectors such as automobile manufacturing is affected by isolation. Although the North Korean car market will not expand rapidly in the near future, it will remain a useful instrument for the government and the military to support the automotive environment in the country.
