Hongqi Confirms Singapore Launch, Malaysia Next?

The ultra-luxurious Hongqi L5 made waves early last year when it was gifted to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim. Then in April, during the ASEAN Chairman’s Summit, the spotlight returned to the brand when the striking Hongqi N701 was flown in to chauffeur Chinese President Xi Jinping during his state visit to Malaysia.

Often dubbed “The Beast from the East,” the N701 captured plenty of attention. Now, the Hongqi marque is looking to carry that momentum further.

The premium Chinese marque has officially confirmed its entry into Singapore, with its debut scheduled for the first half of 2026. As China’s oldest and most prestigious automotive brand, Hongqi, meaning “Red Flag”, has long been a symbol of national pride, known for transporting Chinese dignitaries and heads of state.

The man leading Hongqi’s design transformation is none other than Giles Taylor. Formerly the design boss at Rolls-Royce and Jaguar, the Briton now serves as Chief Creative Officer at Hongqi, helping steer its bold East-meets-West luxury direction.

Singapore is part of the brand’s wider global expansion plan, which includes Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Representing Hongqi in Singapore is Eurokars, a household name in the premium segment, known for handling brands like Rolls-Royce, McLaren and Pagani.

A dedicated Hongqi showroom is set to open next year along Leng Kee Road, timed with the arrival of its first wave of models.

Among them is the E-HS9, a full-electric luxury SUV expected to be priced just over SGD105,000 (RM365,000). Positioned to take on rivals like the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE, the E-HS9 is tipped to become the brand’s flagship offering in Singapore.

It will be joined by two new models, the G117, a premium mid-size SUV and the E007, a fully-electric compact SUV first shown at Auto Beijing 2024. Both are still in development and are expected to make their global production debut soon.

Owned by China’s state-run FAW Group, Hongqi has set its sights high. The company plans to roll out 20 new models globally over the next five years. It also aims to sell 500,000 vehicles in 2025 and to produce 200,000 units annually outside China by 2030.

With Singapore now officially in the picture and Hongqi’s Southeast Asian ambitions gaining momentum, could Malaysia be next in line?

Given the high regard shown by the Chinese government towards Malaysia, especially with Sultan Ibrahim becoming the first foreign head of state to take official delivery of the Hongqi L5 could we even see Hongqi setting up its overseas production facility here?

And if Hongqi does arrive here, would Malaysians be ready to embrace a Chinese luxury marque priced in the same range as its European and Japanese counterparts?

Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Source: CNA