DNA Motors

DNA Motors is a South Korean two-wheeler and light recreational-vehicle manufacturer formerly known as Daelim Motor Company. The business originated in 1962 as a division of DL Industries and began producing motorcycles in Seoul in 1963. Its initial manufacturing activity centered on Japanese Honda motorcycle designs produced under license for the South Korean market. This provided the company with an early technical and industrial foundation while South Korea’s domestic motorcycle market was developing. The company began moving toward independent product development during the 1970s. It established a research and development center in Hamamatsu, Japan, in 1976, and started mass production of its own designs the following year. Over time, the Daelim name became associated with a broad range of commuter motorcycles, underbone motorcycles, scooters, touring and road models, and small utility vehicles. Its model history includes the Citi series, Roadwin and Roadsport motorcycles, Daystar cruisers, and numerous scooters sold under names such as S1, S2, S3, Besbi, Delfino, B-Bone, and Citi. Daelim’s product scope later expanded beyond conventional petrol-powered motorcycles. The company developed electric scooters and other electric mobility products, including the EMote, EM series, eCiti, Coolmax, and utility-oriented three- and four-wheel electric vehicles. It also produced all-terrain vehicles, including ET and AT models. The range reflects the company’s emphasis on practical urban transport, small-displacement mobility, delivery and utility applications, and accessible recreational vehicles rather than premium large-displacement motorcycles. A significant organizational change took place in 2018, when the motorcycle division was separated from the wider Daelim business and became Daelim Motorcycle. In 2021, the South Korean motorcycle business changed its name to DNA Motors. The Daelim export identity continued to be used in at least some overseas markets, including the United Kingdom, creating a distinction between the domestic corporate brand and certain legacy export branding. DNA Motors’ historical production has been described as exceeding 300,000 vehicles annually since production began. Its international presence has included European, Australian, Middle Eastern, and African markets, although the available reference material does not provide current market shares, revenue figures, production totals by year, or a definitive list of present distributors. The company’s known portfolio spans motorcycles, scooters, electric scooters, three-wheel and four-wheel mobility products, and ATVs. Its public identity therefore combines the legacy of the Daelim motorcycle marque with the newer DNA Motors name used for the South Korean business.

DNA Motors traces its origins to 1962, when it was established as a division of DL Industries in South Korea. The business began motorcycle production in Seoul in 1963, initially manufacturing Japanese Honda designs under license for the domestic market. This licensing arrangement gave the company access to established motorcycle engineering and manufacturing practices during the early development of South Korea’s motorcycle industry. The company pursued greater technical independence during the 1970s. In 1976 it established a research and development center in Hamamatsu, Japan, an important center for motorcycle engineering. In 1977 it began mass production of motorcycles based on its own designs. This transition marked the development of Daelim from a licensed producer into a manufacturer with its own product engineering capability. Over subsequent decades, the company built a broad portfolio of small and medium-displacement motorcycles and scooters. Its motorcycle range included commuter and utility models, road motorcycles, cruiser-style products, and sport-oriented models. Examples recorded in the company’s model history include the Roadwin, Roadsport, Daystar, Advance, Dream, Goldwing, and Citi families. The Citi line in particular represented the company’s long-running presence in practical commuter and underbone-style transportation, with several generations produced across multiple periods. Daelim also developed an extensive scooter business. Its historical range included the S1, S2, and S3, as well as the Besbi, Delfino, B-Bone, Cordi, Handy, M-Boy, Citi, and other compact scooter families. The product list covered both petrol-powered scooters and smaller urban models, reflecting demand for economical personal transportation in South Korea and export markets. The company expanded into electric mobility and utility-oriented vehicles. Models and product families identified in the reference material include the EMote, EM-1, EM-S, EM-D, KS5, eCiti, and Coolmax electric scooters. It also listed three-wheel products such as the TeunTeun Strong e and eCiticom Cargo, together with four-wheel electric products marketed under the Pyeon-an name. These products indicate an effort to address cargo, commercial, and accessible urban transport applications in addition to conventional two-wheel use. ATVs formed another part of the portfolio, with models including the ET 250/300, AT 100 TF, and All Court 100. The reference material also records a car named Accord, produced from 1989 to 1993, although the available information does not explain the model’s technical relationship to the company’s broader vehicle business. In 2018, the motorcycle division was separated from the wider Daelim organization and became Daelim Motorcycle. In 2021, the South Korean motorcycle business changed its name to DNA Motors. The Daelim export identity remained in use in the United Kingdom, meaning that DNA Motors and Daelim could coexist as domestic and export-facing names. The company has been associated with production volumes of more than 300,000 vehicles annually since production began and has exported products to markets in Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and Africa. Current ownership details, financial performance, executive leadership, and the complete present-day dealer network are not established by the supplied reference material.

• 2021

  Domestic brand renamed DNA Motors

  [1]DNA Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  The South Korean motorcycle business changed its name to DNA Motors, while the Daelim export name remained in use in the United Kingdom.

• 2018

  Motorcycle division separated

  [1]DNA Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  The motorcycle division was separated from the wider Daelim business and became Daelim Motorcycle.

• 1977

  Independent design production begins

  [1]DNA Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  Mass production of the company’s own motorcycle designs began.

• 1976

  Research and development center established in Japan

  [1]DNA Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  The company established an R&D center in Hamamatsu, Japan.

• 1963

  Motorcycle production begins

  [1]DNA Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  Production began in Seoul using Japanese Honda motorcycle designs under license for the South Korean market.

• 1962

  Business founded within DL Industries

  [1]DNA Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  The motorcycle business was established as a division of DL Industries in South Korea.

Practical, accessible mobility manufacturer focused on small-displacement motorcycles, urban scooters, electric mobility, utility vehicles, and ATVs.

• Underbone motorcycles and commuter motorcycles · 1987

  Citi series

  The Citi family is a long-running line of practical commuter motorcycles associated with Daelim’s small-displacement transport business. Recorded variants include Citi 100, Citi Plus, Citi Ace 110, Citi Ace II, New Citi 100, and Citi Best. The series served everyday urban and utility transportation needs and was produced across multiple generations and periods.

• Road motorcycles

  Roadwin and Roadsport

  Roadwin and Roadsport are motorcycle families representing Daelim’s road-oriented product development. The recorded range includes the VJ 125 Roadwin, VJF 125 Roadsport R, and VJF 250 Roadsport. These models illustrate the company’s move beyond basic commuter motorcycles into styled, performance-oriented small- and medium-displacement road products.

• Cruiser motorcycle

  Daystar

  The VL 125 Daystar is a small-displacement cruiser-style motorcycle in the Daelim model history. It formed part of the company’s effort to offer a more distinctive recreational and lifestyle-oriented alternative to conventional commuter motorcycles while retaining the accessible engine size associated with the brand’s broader portfolio.

• Petrol scooters

  S-series scooters

  The S-series includes the S1 125, S2 125 and 250, and S3 125 FI and 250 Advance. These scooters represent Daelim’s urban personal-mobility range, combining compact dimensions with engines intended for city transport and, in the larger variants, broader commuting use.

• Electric scooters

  EMote and EM series

  The EMote and EM-1, EM-S, and EM-D are electric scooter products associated with the company’s expansion into battery-powered urban mobility. The range indicates attention to low-emission commuting and compact electric transportation, although the supplied material does not provide specifications, launch dates, or current availability for each variant.

• Electric scooters and utility vehicles

  eCiti and electric utility vehicles

  The eCiti, TeunTeun Strong e, eCiticom Cargo, and Pyeon-an electric vehicle families extend the company’s electric portfolio beyond ordinary two-wheel scooters. The recorded products include three-wheel cargo-oriented vehicles and four-wheel mobility products, suggesting applications in delivery, local commerce, and practical short-distance transport.

• All-terrain vehicles

  ATV range

  DNA Motors’ predecessor business also produced all-terrain vehicles, including the ET 250/300, AT 100 TF, and All Court 100. These models broadened the company’s product scope from road-going motorcycles and scooters into recreational and utility-oriented off-road vehicles.

• 2021

  Adopt the DNA Motors name in South KoreaStrategy

  Background

  Following the 2018 separation of the motorcycle division, the South Korean business changed its domestic brand identity.

  Action taken

  Daelim Motorcycles in South Korea was renamed DNA Motors.

  Aftermath

  The Daelim export brand remained in use in the United Kingdom according to the available reference material, producing a distinction between domestic and some export branding.

  Source

• 2018

  Separate the motorcycle divisionStrategy

  Background

  The motorcycle operation was separated from the wider Daelim business.

  Action taken

  The division began operating as Daelim Motorcycle.

  Aftermath

  The separation preceded the later adoption of the DNA Motors name in South Korea.

  Source

1. 1DNA Motorsen.wikipedia.org