Sungri Motor Plant Explained

Context:	north
Hangul:	승리자동차공장
Hanja:	勝利自動車工場
Rr:	Seungri Jadongcha Gongjang
Mr:	Sŭngri Chadongch'a Kongjang

Sungri Motor Plant, somtimes known as Sungri Motor Complex / Sungri General Motor Enterprise,^[1] is a 600,000 m² vehicle factory in the city of Tokchon (덕천), North Korea. It was the most capable plant of the North Korean automotive industry before being surpassed by Pyeonghwa Motors. The plant produces urban and off-road passenger cars, small, medium, and heavy cargo, as well as haulage construction and off-road trucks and buses.

All models are reported to be replicas or derivations of foreign cars.^[2] Vehicles are generally for civilian and commercial use, as government officials favour foreign imports and the armed forces have their own facilities.^[3]

History

The Sungri Motor Plant was founded in November 1950 as the Tokchon Motor Plant (덕천자동차공장). It produced its first vehicle, a Sungri-58 truck, in 1958. In 1975, the plant was renamed Sungri Motor Plant (sungri meaning victory in Korean). In 1980, annual production was reported by the government to be 20,000 units per year, however the rate was more likely between 6,000 and 7,000 units per year. In 1996 production was crippled due to the country's economic difficulties, with approximately 150 units produced.^[3]

On November 20, 2017, Kim Jong-un was reported to have visited and provided on-the-spot guidance at the Sungri Motor Plant.^[4]

In March 2021, it's reported that SMP has a new production hall.^[1]

Car models

• Achimkoy (아침의 꽃 - 'Flower of the morning') - 5 seat sedan, a copy of the GAZ-M20 Pobeda. Most likely a single prototype.^[5]
• Kunchook (건축 - 'Construction')
• Jaju (자주 - 'Independence' or 'Frequent') - A five-seat passenger car. Clone of the Volkswagen Passat. however there's no proof its was produced.
• Kaengsaeng 69 (갱생 - 'Rebirth') - A more modified Sungri-4.10 (a Korean GAZ 69 and Jeep combination) of 1968, then moved for production on Pyongsang Auto Works.
• Pyongyang 4.10 and Kaengsaeng 88 - Unauthorized clones of the Mercedes-Benz W201 luxury passenger car.
• Shintaibaik (신태백 - 'New Taebaek')
• Sungri-4.10 - Korean GAZ 69 four-wheel drive car modified with new front end.
• Sungri-4.25 - Pick-up version of Korean GAZ 69.
• Paektustan (Mount Paekdu) Potentially rebodied GAZ Volga . Four door sedan.^[6]

Truck models

• Kumsusan, Kyomsusang (금수산 - 'Mount Kumsu') - A 40-ton construction truck-dumper of 1979.
• Sonyon - Small urban delivery truck of the 1990s.
• Sungri-58 (승리 58호 - 'Victory 58') - A clone of the Soviet GAZ-51 (ГАЗ-51) Truck, however with weaker springs. The Sungri-58 also suffers from unusually high fuel consumption due to its crudely copied GAZ-51 carburetor which has been used since 1961.^{[7] [8]} It was first built in 1958.^[9] Later Sungri-58KA and Sungri-58NA (4×4) modifications with new cabin are appeared in the 1970s.
• Sungri-60/10.10) - A large 6×6 truck of 1960, it has a ten-ton payload and was used primarily for military purposes. It was featured on a North Korean stamp from 1961.^[10]
• Sungri-61 - Based on the GAZ-63 (ГАЗ-63) truck. It is a 4×4 version of Sungri-58. The Sungri-61 was first built in 1961. Later Sungri-61NA increased payload to 2 tons and a new cabin.
• Sungri/Jaju-64 - Based on the KrAZ 256. A 6×4 dump truck, it has a 10-ton payload and 15-litre V8-cylinder diesel engine. It was featured on a North Korean stamp from 1965. Built from 1964 to 1982.
• Sungri/Jaju-82 - A 4×2 multi-purpose truck of 1982, it has a 10-ton payload and a 15-litre V8-cylinder diesel engine. It was featured in a North Korean stamp from 1988. Sometimes referred to as "Chaju".^[11]
• Sungrisan/Konsor-25 ('Mount Victory'/'Construction') - A 25-ton dumper of 1970. It is based on the BelAZ trucks. Later built by the March 30th Works.

See also

• Automotive industry in North Korea
• Economy of North Korea

Notes and References

1. https://archive.today/20240725163714/https://www.nknews.org/pro/north-korea-upgrading-over-10-weapons-factories-in-sweeping-production-push/#selection-1481.0-1481.54
2. Web site: The Struggling North Korean Automobile Industry . https://web.archive.org/web/20021205163459/http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200202/200202050269.html . 2002-02-05 . 2002-12-05 . . Kim . Mi-young .
3. Book: Hoare, James E.. Historical Dictionary of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. 2012. Scarecrow Press. Lanham, Maryland. 978-0810879874.
4. Web site: Kim Jong Un Visits Sungri Motor Complex . Explore DPRK . 2017-11-24 .
5. Web site: Achimkoy (Flower of the Morning) . China Motor Vehicle Documentation Centre . Van Ingen Schenau . Erik . 2013-09-17 .
6. https://www.reddit.com/r/regularcarreviews/comments/16vu9qu/1977_sungri_paektusan_when_the_great_leaders_mad/
7. Web site: Full text of "1997 North Korea Country Handbook (Insignia and Uniforms)". Internet Archive. 14 September 2011.
8. Web site: Archived copy . 2009-10-01 . 2012-02-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120204033922/http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=466769 . dead .
9. Web site: Sungri-58/GAZ-51 - Wood Burning Truck. 9 August 2010.
10. Web site: DPRK automobiles - Birgit - Picasa Web Albums . picasaweb.google.nl . 3 February 2022 . https://archive.today/20130223014444/http://picasaweb.google.nl/birgit1401/DprkAutomobiles?feat=directlink%235273386980159173922 . 23 February 2013 . dead.
11. Web site: CHAJU 82, later renamed CHAJU 64 . China Motor Vehicle Documentation Centre . Van Ingen Schenau . Erik . 2013-09-17 .