The automotive industry in North Korea is a branch of the national economy, with much lower production than the automotive industry in South Korea. In North Korea motor vehicle production is focused on military and industrial goals, including construction; few private citizens own cars. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is not involved in the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles (OICA) or any other United Nations industrial committee, so information about its motor vehicle industry is limited. The OICA does not publish figures for automobile production in the DPRK. As reported by a limited number of observers with first-hand knowledge, North Korea can produce 40,000 to 50,000 vehicles a year. History The North Korean automobile industry had its origins during the Soviet era, and the DPRK began motor-vehicle production with licenses obtained from the USSR. The Soviet Union helped to build automotive plants in the country, which were then equipped with Soviet machines. North Korea's first domestically produced automobiles were copies of Soviet designs, such as the GAZ-51 midi-truck, the GAZ 69 off-road four-wheel drive vehicle, and the GAZ-M20 Pobeda passenger car. Motor-vehicle manufacturers Sungri Motor Plant Since 1950, Sungri Motor Plant in Tokchon has been North Korea's first and largest motor vehicle plant, producing urban and off-road passenger cars and small, medium, and heavy cargo, haulage, construction, and off-road trucks and buses under the names Sungri and Jaju, among others. It was the most capable plant of the North Korean automotive industry before being surpassed by Pyeonghwa Motors. All models are reported to be replicas or derivations of foreign cars. Its vehicles are generally for civilian and commercial use; government officials favour foreign imports and the armed forces have their own facilities. 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 means victory in Korean). In 1980, annual production was reported by the government to be 20,000 units per year, but the rate was more likely 6,000–7,000 units. In 1996, production was crippled by the country's economic difficulties, with about 150 vehicles produced. Pyeonghwa Motors Founded in 2000, Pyeonghwa Motors in Nampo is an auto manufacturing and retailing joint venture between South Korea's Pyeonghwa Motors (owned by Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church) and the North Korea's Ryonbong General Corp. Pyeonghwa Motors products