Alleged video endorses electric vehicle brand of North Korea
In the realm of North Korea, the onset of electric vehicle era seemingly emerges, or so a promotional clip suggests. However, this illusion unveils itself to be quite basic.
The video spans a mere two-minute length, yet manages to spark a frenzy first in Chinese social networking platforms and then globally. The attention is bestowed upon what appears to be the initial electric vehicle of a North Korean brand, accompanied by claims of rapid speed, comfortable ride, and an astounding range of 720 kilometers - a premium even for the current market leaders in international manufacturing.
The clip is a segment of a more extensive promotional video, showcasing various products of North Korea's state-owned "Madusan Economic Association". A sleek black limousine can be seen cruising through deserted streets of Pyongyang, sprinkling water from the damp road under its tires. At the end, the vehicle glides into an auto dealership's showroom - allegedly the solitary electric vehicle dealership in North Korea, which has earlier surfaced in images.
Last year, images of a few Chinese-made BYD models graced the state media images in the same shop. In contrast, a Madusan logo is evident in a close-up of the car depicted in the video. Reports insinuate that North Korea's dictator Kim Jong Un ordered the production of electric vehicles within his economically self-imposed isolation several years back. However, the video does not affirm that the new car was actually manufactured in North Korea, but rather that Madusan "actively endorses the import and sale of electric vehicles through collaborations and exchanges with major foreign electric vehicle manufacturers."
In actuality, the car in the video is indisputably the BYD Han model. The creators of the clip seem to have invested minimal effort in concealing this. Simply, the BYD logo was removed, and the Madusan logo was placed upfront. Speculation arises that Madusan may already be retailing Chinese-made smartphones under its own brand within North Korea. The slapdash rebranding of the BYD car, though, hints that this may not extend to electric vehicles. For BYD, potential sales outlets in North Korea could potentially trigger unpleasant consequences. According to South Korean media, the export of passenger vehicles is forbidden by UN sanctions.
