Chinese luxury brand Hongqi to debut Down Under with 3 SUVs

Key highlights:

• Hongqi to launch with 3 SUVs in the first half of 2027
• 13 new Hongqi models in the pipeline for Australia
• Brand sells the Guoli model for around A$1.5m in China

Australia’s Chinese-car lineup could soon become wider with Hongqi, a Chinese state-owned luxury carmaker. Hongqi has never sold passenger cars in Australia, but its parent company, FAW Group, maintains a commercial presence locally through its heavy-truck operations.

Hongqi plans to bring three SUVs here in the first half of 2027 and is likely to choose a simplified luxury brand name, HQ. The brand launch is led by the flagship E-HS9 large electric SUV.

Flagship Hongqi EHS9 electric SUV to be launched Down Under within H1 2027

Three Hongqi SUVs are coming

Hongqi’s Australian launch will centre on three SUVs, with sales expected to begin during the first half of 2027:

• E-HS9: a large seven-seat all-electric SUV
• EHS5: a mid-size electric SUV
• A smaller range-extender SUV: the third model has not yet been identified

Hongqi hasn’t confirmed Australian pricing for any of these models, and it will likely position them against premium Chinese rivals from Denza and Zeekr, the luxury brands operated by BYD and Geely.

The Hongqi rollout is managed by Sydney-based distributor Greentech, which operates under the corporate name HQ ANZ, and it has only formally named the headlining E-HS9 SUV.

The Hongqi E-HS9 targets elite cars like the BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS, or Cadillac Vistiq and is often called the Chinese Rolls-Royce because its design was penned by Giles Taylor, the former Design Director for Rolls-Royce. 

It is over 5.2m long, features dual-motor all-wheel drive, up to 405kW of output, 760km CLTC range, ultra-luxury 6- or 7-seat configurations, and massive dashboard screen arrays.

Also read: China orders huge vehicle recalls over hidden door handles

The $1.5 million Hongqi Guoli

The Hongqi Guoli is a full-size, ultra-luxury flagship limousine that acts as China’s equivalent to a Rolls-Royce Phantom and is famously used by top government officials and visiting diplomats.

The Guoli stands out as the flagship of the Golden Sunflower series, the most luxurious, expensive, and elite sub-brand, and the top-tier model starts at around A$1.5 million. 

Hongqi has not confirmed plans to sell the Golden Sunflower models in Australia, but there was a report from Drive, of a Hongqi insider mentioning they would like to see the Guoli on Australian roads.

The spokesperson also pointed to Hongqi’s wider product pipeline and said the brand plans to develop 13 new models over the next two and a bit years for Australia.