Chine
Hongqi
Hongqi (红旗, "red flag") is the luxury automotive brand of China's state-owned FAW Group (First Automobile Works), based in Changchun, in Jilin province. It came into being on August 1, 1958 with the CA72 sedan, the first chauffeur-driven flagship vehicle built entirely in China, a project personally approved by Mao Zedong. It is the oldest Chinese passenger-car brand still in production. From the outset, Hongqi served an official mission: producing limousines reserved for Communist Party leaders and senior government officials, a symbol of the country's drive for industrial self-sufficiency at a time of heavy dependence on foreign technology. Production of state vehicles, such as the CA770 derived from the CA72, continued for decades, with these cars long remaining reserved for state institutions. After a period of dormancy and several attempts to relaunch the brand, FAW gave it real commercial momentum again starting in 2018. Hongqi then experienced spectacular growth: from roughly 33,000 units in 2018, sales surpassed 100,000 in 2019, 200,000 in 2020, and 300,000 in 2021, a more than sixtyfold increase in four years. The lineup expanded dramatically, ranging from sedans (H5, H9) to SUVs (HS5, HS7) and a far-reaching electric offensive (the E-HS, EH7, and EHS7 series). Since the early 2020s, Hongqi has been carrying out an international expansion targeting the Middle East and then Europe (Norway, Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands, etc.), with a plan to reach more than 110 countries by 2028 and to explore a European production base. In North America, however, Hongqi is not sold: there is no official dealer network and no local production in the United States, Canada, or Mexico, which makes it an essentially confidential brand in Quebec, known mainly to enthusiasts and specialized importers.
ActiveLuxeÉlectrique / hybrideChinoises
History
History of Hongqi
Hongqi (红旗, "red flag") is the luxury automotive brand of China's state-owned FAW Group (First Automobile Works), based in Changchun, in Jilin province. It came into being on August 1, 1958 with the CA72 sedan, the first chauffeur-driven flagship vehicle built entirely in China, a project personally approved by Mao Zedong. It is the oldest Chinese passenger-car brand still in production. From the outset, Hongqi served an official mission: producing limousines reserved for Communist Party leaders and senior government officials, a symbol of the country's drive for industrial self-sufficiency at a time of heavy dependence on foreign technology. Production of state vehicles, such as the CA770 derived from the CA72, continued for decades, with these cars long remaining reserved for state institutions. After a period of dormancy and several attempts to relaunch the brand, FAW gave it real commercial momentum again starting in 2018. Hongqi then experienced spectacular growth: from roughly 33,000 units in 2018, sales surpassed 100,000 in 2019, 200,000 in 2020, and 300,000 in 2021, a more than sixtyfold increase in four years. The lineup expanded dramatically, ranging from sedans (H5, H9) to SUVs (HS5, HS7) and a far-reaching electric offensive (the E-HS, EH7, and EHS7 series). Since the early 2020s, Hongqi has been carrying out an international expansion targeting the Middle East and then Europe (Norway, Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands, etc.), with a plan to reach more than 110 countries by 2028 and to explore a European production base. In North America, however, Hongqi is not sold: there is no official dealer network and no local production in the United States, Canada, or Mexico, which makes it an essentially confidential brand in Quebec, known mainly to enthusiasts and specialized importers.
Public founding or origin of Hongqi.
CA72: launch or first listed period.
E-HS9: launch or first listed period.
H9: launch or first listed period.
Technologies
Technologies, innovations and platforms
Hongqi has made electrification and onboard intelligence the cornerstones of its recent strategy. The lineup combines high-end internal-combustion powertrains (turbocharged 2.0L gasoline engines often paired with a 48V mild-hybrid system, and a supercharged 3.0L V6 for prestige models) with a fully electric offensive built around new dedicated platforms (the E-HS9, EH7, and EHS7 series). The electric models use a dual-motor architecture with all-wheel drive, large-capacity batteries (up to roughly 120 kWh on the large E-HS9 SUV), and DC fast charging. The vehicles emphasize generous equipment: multi-link suspension and adaptive damping on the flagship models, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), large screens, connectivity, and refined finishes geared toward rear-seat comfort, a legacy of the brand's chauffeur-driven heritage. The CA72 is a classic chauffeur-driven sedan from the 1950s–1960s: a chassis and body derived from a Chrysler Imperial, propelled by a large gasoline V8 (around 5.6L, approximately 200 hp) with an automatic transmission, for a claimed top speed of nearly 185 km/h. The E-HS9 is a battery-electric SUV on a dedicated platform, offered with several capacities (around 84, 99, and up to 120 kWh). Two motors (one per axle) provide all-wheel drive, with combined output of roughly 430 to more than 550 hp depending on the version, and DC fast charging. The H9 is a rear-wheel-drive sedan with a turbocharged 2.0L gasoline engine paired with a 48V mild-hybrid system (around 250 hp) or a supercharged 3.0L V6 (raised to about 333 hp on the facelift). It uses a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, then an 8-speed automatic; with a MacPherson-strut front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension with adaptive damping.
Brand image
Identity, reputation, strengths and weaknesses
Positioning
A historic Chinese luxury brand of the FAW Group, in the midst of a worldwide electric offensive but absent from the North American market.
Reputation
In China, Hongqi enjoys a strong heritage and institutional image, associated with state limousines. In export markets, the large E-HS9 electric SUV, with its imposing presence, full equipment, and pricing more accessible than European premium benchmarks, has helped establish the brand's credibility as a serious electric manufacturer. Perspective remains limited outside China, however: long-term reliability, resale value, and the service network are still poorly documented in Western markets, and nonexistent in North America. European reviews praise the comfort, interior space, and real-world range of the electric models, while noting that chassis refinement and brand recognition still fall short of established premium marques.
Strengths
Hongqi offers richly equipped, spacious, and comfortable vehicles, with strong attention paid to the rear seats, at price positioning often below Western premium benchmarks. The brand benefits from a genuine industrial foundation through FAW, from a rapid ramp-up of its electric lineup, and from a prestige image inherited from its historic role as China's official state automaker.
Points to watch
Outside China, Hongqi remains a commercially young brand: limited recognition, a restricted sales and after-sales network, and uncertainty about long-term reliability and resale value. In North America, the complete absence of official distribution, parts, and service makes the brand of little day-to-day relevance to a Quebec buyer, apart from specialized import cases.
Models
Hongqi models
Current or active models by market
Notable past models
Production and compatibility
Plants, tires and wheels
Production
Hongqi is built by FAW in Changchun, in China's Jilin province, the manufacturer's historic home. There, FAW has expanded its capacity with an existing plant raised to roughly 150,000 vehicles per year and a new plant dedicated to electrified and connected vehicles, representing an investment of about 1.1 billion dollars and a targeted peak capacity of around 200,000 units annually. The brand is also exploring a production base in Europe, mentioned in the context of a potential partnership with Stellantis, to support its international expansion. In North America, Hongqi has no plant or assembly operations: there is no production in the United States, Canada, or Mexico for this brand.
Tires and wheels
As a brand not distributed in Quebec, Hongqi remains an import case: sourcing tires and wheels therefore goes by dimensions rather than through a dedicated catalog. The prestige sedans (H9) and especially the large electric SUVs (E-HS9) are big vehicles that typically run large-diameter wheels, often around 19 to 22 inches, with low-profile fitments. It is best to note the exact marking inscribed on the tire's sidewall (e.g., width/aspect ratio/diameter) and the actual hub bolt pattern before any purchase. In Quebec, certified winter tires (the mountain/snowflake symbol) are mandatory in winter; for these heavy, powerful vehicles, a second set of wheels in a smaller diameter often makes winter fitment easier.