Frequent breakdowns of obsolete Chinese used cars are costing North Korean owners more in repairs than the vehicles’ purchase price, as exporters ship scrap-ready vehicles after cosmetic fixes, creating lucrative opportunities for auto mechanics and parts sellers.
“There’s been a notable rise in the number of people buying used cars imported through state-led smuggling for use in making money in Hyesan and elsewhere nationwide, but car owners are frustrated because breakdowns are so frequent that cars often suddenly stop in the middle of downtown streets,” a Daily NK source in Ryanggang province said recently.
“Problems repeatedly arise since most of the cars are antiquated used models, so fixes often require more than just one or two parts,” he said. “People who bought cars in poor condition are suffering serious financial losses from repair bills.”
According to the source, some used cars are relatively reliable, operating with few major problems, but Chinese exporters often underhandedly send vehicles destined for the scrap heap to North Korea after fixing up their exteriors. As a result, breakdowns are frequent.
This puts a financial burden on the car owners, with some complaining that they “spend more money fixing their car than what they paid to buy it,” that they “wasted their money,” and that they “bought the car to make money, but instead all they get is deeper in debt.”
One owner spent $318 on parts and repairs for broken-down van
“One Hyesan resident in their 40s spent a total of 2,300 Chinese yuan ($318) on replacement parts and repair fees for a used van that broke down,” the source said. “If they replace a part, another part soon fails, so they complained that even though they borrowed money to buy the van to earn some cash, they are going deeper in debt from replacing parts and getting the car fixed.”
This problem affects owners of various types of used vehicles, including passenger cars and trucks.
“Exporters often send used vehicles at the end of their life to North Korea after repainting them,” the source said. “With little in terms of quality control, used car buyers have little choice but to eat the costs, and this is becoming a social problem.”
On the other hand, auto repair shops and car part sellers are making a killing.
North Korea used to have few auto repair specialists or car part sellers because only a handful of private individuals owned cars, but as private car ownership has grown, those professions are now reportedly steady earners. In particular, people who both repair cars and sell parts are the subject of popular envy.
“In the past, many more people owned motorcycles than cars, so there were plenty of motorcycle repairmen or parts sellers, but recently, with the number of car owners noticeably rising, car part sellers have also rapidly grown in number, while more people are interested in becoming car repairmen,” the source said.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: dailynk.com
