Hongqi Drives Xi Jinping’s Luxury Car Brand Into Australia
Synopsis
China's oldest automaker plans to launch its premium electric SUV next year, adding to the growing wave of Chinese EV brands entering the Australian market.
Hongqi, China's oldest passenger car brand, will launch in Australia in the second half of 2026, entering one of the fastest-growing new EV maker markets globally. The brand is owned by state-owned FAW Group and plans to launch its first Australia-bound model, the all-electric luxury SUV E-HS9.
The launch is part of a plan to expand Hongqi's right-hand drive operations. The brand is already established in Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore and will now turn its attention to Australia, the UK and Malaysia.
As a result of changes made to Australian business registrations, the local division will trade as HongQi Australia.
FAW Builds on Strong 2025 Performance
Established in 1958, Hongqi was the top maker of passenger cars in China and later developed its expertise towards high-tech luxury vehicles for public sale. FAW Group, the biggest carmaker in China, now owns the brand.
From their most recent earnings report it is evident that the company recorded revenue for 2025 of 541.5 billion yuan, representing the first year the company's revenue had exceeded 500 billion yuan. The company achieved 460,063 vehicle sales during 2025 compared to 2024 (11.7% year-on-year increase) and sold approximately 149,000 new energy vehicle (BEV and hybrid) products.
Australia has already been confirmed as part of Hongqi's phased global expansion, to take place in the second half of 2026, as confirmed by the executive of Hongqi Asia-Pacific Liu Jifang previously.
Australia's EV Market Continues to Expand
The Hongqi is a great addition as the Australian EV market continues to draw manufactures worldwide from Asia, Europe and North America. For 2025 annual new vehicle sales (AV) figures indicate there were increases in battery electric vehicles of 7.4% and increases in hybrids were even more significant.
With BEVs and hybrids moving up the customer purchase hierarchy, battery electric vehicles accounted for 7.4% of the new vehicle sales (AVs) for 2025, with hybrids also showing high increases.
Figures from The Electric Vehicle Council's State of Electric Vehicles report show the steady increase in Australia's EV fleet, with battery electric vehicles at over 300,000.
Once the Hongqi begins selling in Australia it will stand as another high-end player for Australian distributors and suppliers. These increases demonstrate the international expansion that Chinese manufacturers are currently engaged in; beyond China, particularly to North America.
Source: AFR
Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
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