Hongqi is China's oldest and poshest car brand, the one that carries President Xi Jinping, and it is coming to Australia. A local distributor, Greentech Smart EV Pty Ltd, has registered the trading names HongQi Australia and HQ ANZ, and the brand plans showrooms in every capital city under the HQ badge.
The E-HS9 opens the account
HQ's local head, Jim Wu, says three models are planned, priced in line with BMW and Mercedes Benz. The only model currently built in right hand drive is the E-HS9, an electric seven seat SUV with a 120kWh battery, 548km of WLTP range, 362kW from a dual motor setup and a 5.5 second sprint to 100km/h. In Thailand, which also gets right hand drive stock, it is priced at roughly A$128,400. Hongqi has previously flagged an Australian arrival before the end of 2026.
Cartell Assessment
Landing an unfamiliar badge against the BMW X5 and Mercedes GLE is the boldest Chinese play we have seen yet. The E-HS9's numbers stack up on paper, big battery, real range, proper performance, but pricing against German rivals means Hongqi is betting buyers will pay full luxury money for a name most of us cannot yet pronounce. As a seven seat family hauler, it is one worth watching.
AU Outlook
Watch for confirmed local pricing and the first dealership signings as the strongest signal this is real and not just a distributor registration. If HQ can undercut its German targets while matching the spec sheet, it has a genuine point of difference. If it prices at parity, brand recognition will be the fight, and that is a much harder one to win from a standing start.
