Investigate
In a recent visit to a military base in North Korea, a delegation from Myanmar was observed being driven around in a variety of vehicles, sparking curiosity and speculation among observers.
Among the vehicles used were at least three Shanghai-Volkswagen Passat Lingyu sedans, adorned with North Korean military plates featuring a red star and a black number. However, it remains unclear whether these sedans belong to North Korea or were provided for the delegation's visit.
The head of the delegation and his North Korean counterpart were also seen being driven around in an old stretched Benz S-class. This vehicle, too, was adorned with North Korean military plates, but its origins have not been definitively traced. It is not specified whether the old stretched Benz S-class belongs to North Korea or was provided for the delegation's use.
Interestingly, the Shanghai-Volkswagen Passat Lingyu and the Benz S-class were not the only vehicles spotted during the visit. The 2025 Greater Bay Auto Show in China featured several other vehicles, including the Xiaomi YU7, Maextro S800, and Yangwang U8L, all of which were also observed in China.
Meanwhile, in Shanghai, the lockdown has had varying effects on the city's automotive industry. While Tesla's plant has been suspended during the lockdown, SAIC Volkswagen, the manufacturer of the Volkswagen ID.Aero, has managed to keep production running. SAIC is also the manufacturer of the Shanghai-Volkswagen Passat Lingyu sedans.
It is worth noting that North Korea has been known to use foreign vehicles for government and military officials, but detailed historical information about the specific use of Shanghai-Volkswagen Passat Lingyu sedans by North Korean military delegations is limited and not well-documented in open sources.
As the investigation into the origins of the vehicles used during the Myanmar delegation's visit continues, more details are expected to emerge, shedding light on this intriguing incident.
- The origins of the Shanghai-Volkswagen Passat Lingyu sedans used by the Myanmar delegation in North Korea remain unclear, as they are also produced by SAIC, a Chinese company.
- The finance and transportation industries in Shanghai, including the automotive sector, have been affected differently by the ongoing lockdown, with some companies like Tesla suspending production while others, like SAIC Volkswagen, have managed to keep production running.
