Key highlights:
- HQ confirms EHS4, EHS5 and E-HS9 electric SUVs for Australia
- First customer deliveries are expected from January 2027
- HQ targets 30,000 annual Australian sales long term
Chinese luxury brand HQ has confirmed three electric SUVs for Australia ahead of its planned local launch in November 2026, and the brand also hints at a fourth sedan model, as it prepares to take on established premium names including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi and Lexus.
HQ will not be the first Chinese premium automotive brand to enter Australia. Geely’s Zeekr already operates here, while BYD has its premium Denza brand. Avatr, which sits under automotive giant Changan, also plans to launch in Australia. The final specifications of the Australian HQ models are not confirmed yet, and this article mentions overseas equipment and figures.
HQ confirms its first three Australian models
HQ CEO and chairman of its Australian operations, Jim Wu, has confirmed the smaller EHS4 and EHS5 will join the previously announced E-HS9.
| Electric SUV model | Australian launch timing |
|---|---|
| HQ E-HS9 | Show locally in Nov 2026; dealerships in 2027 |
| HQ EHS4 | Unveiling in Nov 2026; deliveries from Jan 2027 |
| HQ EHS5 | Expected around April 2027 |
HQ expects its first customer deliveries in January 2027. Once all three electric SUVs reach Australian showrooms by the middle of next year, the brand is targeting around 1000 sales per month, and its longer-term target stands at 30,000 annual sales.
HQ says a sedan will follow the three SUVs, which is similar in size to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series, and Audi A6. This points towards the EH7 electric sedan, although HQ has not confirmed the model by name.
The EH7 is sold overseas with rear- or all-wheel drive and offers up to 655km of WLTP range.
HQ plans to position its SUVs against established electric models across several segments.
| SUV model | Key rivals |
|---|---|
| HQ EHS4 | Audi Q4 e-tron, upcoming electric Mercedes-Benz GLA |
| HQ EHS5 | Tesla Model Y, Zeekr 7X, BMW iX3 |
| HQ E-HS9 | Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, Cadillac Vistiq |
The EHS5 is expected to arrive around April 2027.
What is HQ?
HQ is an abbreviation of Hongqi, a brand owned by China FAW Group, formerly known as First Automobile Works, which began in 1953 as a truck manufacturer.
Hongqi was founded in 1958, becoming China’s first passenger vehicle brand, and the name translates to “Red Flag.”
The brand still builds ultra-exclusive models, including the V8-powered Golden Sunflower Guoli, which starts at ¥7.18 million, or about A$1.50 million.
The company’s Australian head, Jim Wu, said HQ will price its vehicles below key German competitors, and he compared the strategy to Chinese brand Zeekr, which narrowly undercuts Tesla in Australia.
The Zeekr 7X launched locally in late 2025 from $57,900 before on-road costs, which was $1000 below the Tesla Model Y’s starting price at the time.
Also read: Chery iCaur V27 EREV launches September 30 in Australia
EHS4: compact electric SUV
The five-seat, five-door EHS4 already sells overseas, although Australian equipment specifications remain unconfirmed.
| Length | 4520mm |
| Width | 1873mm |
| Height | 1647mm |
| Wheelbase | 2750mm |
| Boot space | 393L (all seats up); 1300L (2nd row seats folded) |
The EHS4 uses MacPherson strut front suspension and an independent multi-link rear setup. It rides on 18-inch alloy wheels.
LED headlights and a panoramic glass roof are available. The EHS4 also offers 3.3kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability.
| Specification | HQ EHS4 |
|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 67.1kWh LFP |
| Electrical system | 400V |
| Drive type | Rear-wheel drive |
| Total output | 160kW / 240Nm |
| EV range | Up to 420km WLTP |
| DC charging time | 30-80% in 20 minutes |
The interior includes:
- ‘Bio-material’ seat upholstery
- 14.6-inch central touchscreen
- 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster
- Wireless phone charging
- Climate control
The EHS4 already sells in Nepal, and the entry-level version cost 59.99 lakh, about A$55,700 at the exchange rate when it launched. That puts it slightly above the MG S5 EV, priced there from 55.99 lakh, or around A$51,310.
EHS5: larger and more powerful
The EHS5 sits above the EHS4 in size and rides on 20-inch alloy wheels. It uses double-wishbone front suspension and an independent multi-link rear setup.
| Length | 4750mm (+230mm than EHS4) |
| Width | 1900mm (+27mm) |
| Height | 1640mm (+7mm) |
| Wheelbase | 2900mm (+150mm) |
The overseas single-motor version drives the rear wheels, and the AWD model adds a second motor.
| Specifications | HQ EHS5 |
|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 85kWh LFP |
| Electrical system | 400V |
| Output RWD | 210kW / 317Nm |
| EV range RWD | 550km WLTP |
| Output AWD | 412kW / 623Nm |
| EV range AWD | 522km WLTP |
| Acceleration (0-100km/h) AWD | 4.0s |
| DC charging | Up to 265kW |
| DC charging time | 10-80% in 20 minutes |
Overseas equipment includes:
- Augmented-reality head-up display
- Acoustic glass
- Panoramic glass roof
- Synthetic-leather upholstery
- Heated, ventilated and massaging front seats
- Heated outboard rear seats
In Norway, only the AWD version is available, and it starts from 439,900kr, equivalent to around A$65,700. The Tesla Model Y Long Range rear-wheel drive costs 477,500kr, or around A$71,300.
E-HS9: HQ’s flagship SUV
The three-row E-HS9 became the first HQ model confirmed for Australia, and the brand plans to show it locally in November, before it reaches dealerships in 2027. Depending on the variant, the E-HS9 gets 22-inch alloy wheels and air suspension.
| Length | 5209mm (+689mm than EHS4) |
| Width | 2010mm (+137mm) |
| Height | 1713mm (+66mm) |
| Wheelbase | 3110mm (+360mm) |
HQ offers the E-HS9 with two seating layouts:
- Six seats, with two second-row captain’s chairs
- Seven seats, with a second-row bench
| Specification | HQ E-HS9 |
|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 120kWh |
| Electrical system | 400V |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Front motor output | 160kW / 300Nm |
| Rear motor output | 245kW / 450Nm |
| Acceleration (0-100km/h) | 4.9s |
| EV range | 515km WLTP |
The cabin can feature leather upholstery, multiple 16.2-inch displays and an electric panoramic glass roof.
Safety credentials
The EHS5 and E-HS9 have both received five-star safety ratings from Euro NCAP, which works with the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). Australian specifications and equipment for the EHS4, EHS5 and E-HS9 have not yet been fully confirmed.
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