Hongqi () is a Chinese
luxury car
A luxury car is a car that provides increased levels of comfort, equipment, amenities, quality, performance, and associated status compared to moderately priced cars.
The term is subjective and reflects both the qualities of the car and the ...
marque owned by the automaker
FAW Car Company
FAW Car Company Limited, a subsidiary of FAW Group in Changchun, Jilin, China. It is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange since 1997. Its passenger car marques include Bestune, FAW, Hongqi and Oley Oley may refer to:
;People
* Barnabas Oley (160 ...
, itself a subsidiary of
FAW Group
China FAW Group Corp., Ltd. (First Automobile Works) is a Chinese state-owned automobile manufacturer headquartered in Changchun, Jilin. . Hongqi was launched in 1959, making it the oldest Chinese passenger car marque.
[About FAW > Key Events](_blank)
First Automobile Works official site In Chinese, ''hongqi'' means "
red flag."
Originally, Hongqi models were only for high-ranking government officials.
They ceased production in 1981 but were later revived in the mid-1990s.
History
Origins to 1991
While the name has endured, the vehicles that bear the brand have varied significantly. Originally a dignitary's car,
[ the brand's later vehicles have ranged from serving as taxis][Hongqi Mingshi Enters Daqing Taxi Market]
First Automobile Works official site, Oct 13, 2005 to low-end business sedans;[ during the ]60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China
The 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China took place on 1 October 2009. A military parade involving 10,000 troops and the display of many high-tech weapons was held in Tiananmen Square in Beijing and various celebrat ...
parade, the brand returned to its roots by carrying party leaders.[
]
The original Hongqi cars were a luxury item used for the transport of foreign dignitaries[ and the party elite.] Although Chairman Mao claimed not to have been driven in a Hongqi until Nixon's 1972 visit, he did take a personal interest in the cars from the beginning.
Introduced on August 1, 1958, the first Hongqi was the CA72. By September, a convertible version intended to be used by dignitaries in National Day parades had appeared. The CA72's design was based on a 1955 Chrysler. From the beginning, the full-size Hongqi was equipped with a V8 engine.[ The grille was based on a traditional design of a Chinese fan and remains in use on Hongqis today.
First introduced in 1963, the CA770 model remained in production until 1980, albeit in limited numbers. Around 1,600 of these V8-engined Hongqis were built in total,] and over the years various versions were released, including a 1965 long-wheelbase model with three rows of seats and a 1969 armored version (CA772).[
]
1991 to 2015
Between 1995 and 2006, foreign products were manufactured in China and sold as Hongqi models. These included the Audi 100
The Audi 100 and Audi 200 (and sometimes called Audi 5000 in North America) are primarily mid-size/executive cars manufactured and marketed by the Audi division of the Volkswagen Group. The car was made from 1968 to 1997 across four generations (C ...
(CA7200/CA7220) and the Lincoln Town Car
The Lincoln Town Car is a model line of full-size luxury sedans that was marketed by the Lincoln division of the American automaker Ford Motor Company. Deriving its name from a limousine body style, Lincoln marketed the Town Car from 1981 to ...
[ (CA7460). There were two Audi 100-based versions—the more luxurious "Century Star"][ and the smaller (1.8-litre) Hongqi ''Mingshi''.][Fuel Saving Match of New Hongqi Mingshi Ended]
First Automobile Works official site, Aug 16, 2005 8:23 AM
FAW began production of the third generation of Hongqi vehicles in 2006. Named the HQ3 and based on the Toyota Crown Majesta
The is a full-size luxury sedan from Toyota. It is an upmarket variant of the Crown and serves as Toyota's flagship model in various countries.
The Crown Majesta appeared after the international introduction of the Celsior/Lexus LS in late 1 ...
, it saw little market success. First year sales totaled near 500, and while the target for the second year was 1,400 units, the HQ3 would not be profitable until annual sales of 5,000 were reached—something that may never have happened. By October 2008, the price was reduced considerably and the name changed to ''Shengshi'' ("Days of Prosperity") in order to better appeal to private buyers.[ Sales during the first half of 2008 were all from inventory and totaled 788.]
Debuting by 2013, 30,000 units of the latest Hongqi model were initially expected to be produced, though a year after launch, less than 5,000 had been sold. Sales are through government procurement; the car is billed as "the official car for minister-level officials."[ In 2014, the ]People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the principal military force of the People's Republic of China and the armed wing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The PLA consists of five service branches: the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, ...
purchased at least 1,000 H7 models. A much more expensive model, the L5, was also on sale alongside the H7.
2015 to present
From 2017 to 2021, the brand experienced extremely high growth, from 4702 units in 2017 to over 33,000 in 2018, over 100,000 in 2019, over 200,000 in 2020, and over 300,000 in 2021, a growth of 63 times in 4 years.
Current products
File:Red Flag L5 Limousine (18423546376).jpg, Hongqi L5
File:Hongqi E-QM5 002.jpg, Hongqi E-QM5
File:Hongqi E-HS3 001.jpg, Hongqi E-HS3
File:Hongqi HS5 001.jpg, Hongqi HS5
File:Hongqi HS7 02 China 2019-03-27.jpg, Hongqi HS7
File:Hongqi E-HS9 003.jpg, Hongqi E-HS9
File:Hongqi H5 II IMG01.jpg, Hongqi H5 II
File:Hongqi H9 010.jpg, Hongqi H9
File:Hongqi HQ9 at CCAS2022 (20220826122312).jpg, Hongqi HQ9
Products not open to public sale
Former products
Concept cars
Hongqi will sometimes make an appearance at autoshows held on Chinese soil, showing off a concept car that attracts attention.
At the 2005 Shanghai International Auto Exhibition, a Hongqi HQD concept car
A concept car (also known as a concept vehicle, show vehicle or prototype) is a car made to showcase new styling and/or new technology. They are often exhibited at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or ...
was displayed.
A Hongqi SUV concept was unveiled at the 2008 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition.
At the 2015 Shanghai International Auto Exhibition, Hongqi displayed a concept SUV radically different from its 2008 entry.
At the 2018 Beijing International Auto Exhibition, Hongqi unveiled the electric sports car ''E-Jing GT Concept''.
At the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, Hongqi unveiled the sports car ''S9'' and the SUV ''E115''.
At the 2021 Shanghai International Auto Exhibition, Hongqi unveiled the luxury limousine ''L-Concept''.
File:Hongqi S9 Concept (48800427341).jpg, Hongqi S9
The Hongqi S9 is a hybrid sports car produced by Hongqi, which was presented at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Presentation
The Hongqi S9 concept was presented on 13 September 2019 at the Frankfurt Motor Show and celebrates 70 years of the Pe ...
File:Hongqi E115 at IAA 2019 IMG 0576.jpg, Hongqi E115
File:Hongqi E115 Concept (48799429423).jpg, E115
File:Hongqi HQD concept.jpg, Hongqi HQD concept car
HQE
Not strictly a concept car, the V12-powered Hongqi HQE
The Hongqi HQE (红旗HQE) is a large four-door limousine built by FAW Hongqi. Released in 2009, it is the first Chinese-built V12 cylinder engine-equipped luxury car. As Hongqi's most advanced top-of-the-line vehicle type, the HQE will serve ...
was used by high-ranking official Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao (born 21 December 1942) is a Chinese politician who served as the 16–17th general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from 2002 to 2012, the 6th president of the People's Republic of China (PRC) from 2003 to 2013, an ...
during parades celebrating the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
.[Unveiling the President's car at Chinese National Day military parade]
xinhuanet.com, 2009-10-01 It appeared on an official list of upcoming models in 2010 with a retail price of 1.2 million US dollars (which would have made it the most expensive Chinese-built car in history). This model has since been shown at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show as the CA7600L. It is equipped with a 6.0 L V12 engine developed in-house.
S9
Similarly to the HQE, The Hongqi S9
The Hongqi S9 is a hybrid sports car produced by Hongqi, which was presented at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Presentation
The Hongqi S9 concept was presented on 13 September 2019 at the Frankfurt Motor Show and celebrates 70 years of the Pe ...
, is not strictly a concept car, it is set to start production in Italy with Silk-FAW, a joint venture between the FAW group and American based design firm Silk EV. the S9 is luxury sports car powered by a combustion 4.0 L twin-turbo V8 engine associated with a hybrid system, providing it with an output of 1,381 hp. The production version of the S9 was introduced in 2021 Auto Shanghai.
Relationship with Besturn
Hongqi and another FAW Group brand, Besturn
Bestune (), previously known as Besturn, is an automotive marque owned by the Chinese automaker FAW Group.
With products based on older Mazda sedans, Besturn targets upper middle-class Chinese consumers. FAW, Besturn's owner, also manufactures t ...
, have exhibited some overlap. In 2008, due to flagging sales, Hongqi showroom
A plumbing fixture showroom, Canada, 1921
A showroom, also referred to as a gallery, is a large space used to display products, entertainment or visual arts.
Marketing location
A showroom is a large space used to display products for sale, suc ...
s were merged with those of the new Besturn brand. It was thought that giving the Hongqi brand more sales outlets would increase turnover. At the 2010 Beijing Auto Show
Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, Beijing Motor Show or Auto China () is an auto show held biennially in Beijing, China since 1990. China is currently the largest auto market in the world.
2020
The 2020 Auto China show was due to open ...
, Besturn models were shown "under the Hongqi naming series," and until 2011 the two brands both used the Hongqi "circled one" badging.
Sales
Domestic
A total of 2,534 Hongqi vehicles were sold in China in 2013, making it the 67th largest-selling car brand in the country in that year (and the 41st largest-selling Chinese brand). Hongqi sold 2,774 cars in 2014 and became the 72nd largest car brand in China.
Overseas
Hongqi has had a presence in Dubai since December 2018, with 20 vehicles of the H5 and H7 models sold for use in the 2019 NEXT summit.
On December 30, 2020, Hongqi exported 400 H9 and H5 sedans, HS7 and HS5 SUVs to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
In September 2021, Hongqi has launched in Norway.
On February 1, 2022, Hongqi launched in Vietnam with the E-HS9 and H9 being the first vehicle to be sold. Hongqi has a presence in Israel as of April 6, 2022 with the launch of the Hongqi E-HS9 under the Samelet Group.
In popular culture
A 1978 Hongqi CA770 was featured in a 2017 episode of Jay Leno's Garage
''Jay Leno's Garage'' is an American web and television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars and motorbikes starring Jay Leno, the former host of ''The Tonight Show''. Originally a web series for NBC.com, a special aired on CNBC in August ...
.
The Hongqi L5 was reviewed by Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson (born 11 April 1960) is an English broadcaster, journalist, game show host and writer who specialises in Driving, motoring. He is best known for the motoring programmes ''Top Gear (2002 TV series), Top Gear'' an ...
in a 2019 film for The Grand Tour
''The Grand Tour'' is a British motoring television series, created by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and Andy Wilman, made for Amazon exclusively for its online streaming service Amazon Prime Video, and premiered on 18 Novembe ...
taking place in China. Armed with western luxury cars, Clarkson and the other presenters sought to prove that Anglo luxury cars are inferior through a series of performance challenges.
References
External links
Hongqi official site
Hongqi overseas official site
gasgoo.com
{{Automotive industry in China
Hongqi