Hongqi confirms three electric SUVs for Australia, with sedan to follow

First three models locked in for Australia

Hongqi’s Australian arm, branded HQ, has confirmed its first three models for local showrooms and signalled a fourth. The line-up starts with the large E-HS9 three-row electric SUV, to be followed by the smaller EHS4 and EHS5 SUVs, while a sedan is also being lined up for the market. CarExpert reported that HQ will reveal its first Australian model next month ahead of a planned November 2026 local launch, and PerthNow reported that the brand will launch in Australia late this year under the HQ name. ²¹

PerthNow reported that Australia will be the first country where Hongqi vehicles are sold under the abbreviated HQ brand, with the company planning only battery-electric vehicles here rather than the hybrid powertrains available in some Chinese-market models. CarExpert’s earlier report said Hongqi planned to enter Australia in the second half of 2026, naming Australia among the right-hand-drive markets it was targeting. ¹³

Timing, volumes and showroom rollout

Jim Wu, chief executive and chairman of HQ Australia, told CarExpert the first customer deliveries are expected in mid-January 2027. CarExpert also reported that the brand is targeting around 1000 sales per month once all three electric SUVs are in local showrooms by the middle of next year. PerthNow said HQ plans 15 dealerships across Australia, including five flagship sites in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. ²¹⁴

CarExpert said the E-HS9 may be shown at the Melbourne EV Show next month ahead of the brand’s official launch in November, when the Australian-specification EHS4 is also scheduled to be unveiled. The same report said the EHS5 is expected in April 2027. ²

Specification snapshot for the EHS4, EHS5 and E-HS9

CarExpert said Australian equipment details for the EHS4 are yet to be confirmed, but overseas versions are a five-seat, five-door SUV measuring 4520mm long, 1873mm wide and 1647mm high on a 2750mm wheelbase. It uses a 400V electrical system, a single rear-mounted motor with 160kW and 240Nm, and a 67.1kWh LFP battery for up to 420km of WLTP range, with DC charging from 30 to 80 per cent in around 20 minutes and 3.3kW vehicle-to-load capability. ²³

For the EHS5, CarExpert said the overseas rear-wheel-drive version produces 210kW and 317Nm from a single motor paired with an 85kWh LFP battery for a claimed 550km of WLTP range, while an all-wheel-drive version adds a second motor for 412kW and 623Nm and a reduced 522km range. CarExpert also said the EHS5 measures 4750mm long, 1900mm wide and 1640mm high on a 2900mm wheelbase, with up to 265kW DC charging and a 10-to-80 per cent recharge in around 20 minutes. ²

CarExpert said the E-HS9 was the first model confirmed for HQ Australia and that the three-row SUV measures 5209mm long, 2010mm wide and 1713mm high on a 3110mm wheelbase. The same report said overseas versions use a 400V system and dual motors producing 160kW/300Nm at the front and 245kW/450Nm at the rear, with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 4.9 seconds and up to 515km of WLTP range. CarExpert’s earlier coverage and CarExpert New Zealand’s report both identified the E-HS9 as Hongqi’s only right-hand-drive model at the time, with a 120kWh battery and six- or seven-seat layouts. ²³⁵

Positioning, pricing context and brand background

Jim Wu told CarExpert the brand would price its vehicles below their key German rivals. CarExpert compared that positioning with the Zeekr 7X, which launched in Australia in late 2025 from $57,900 before on-road costs, while the EHS4’s Nepal launch price was quoted by CarExpert as 59.99 lakh, around A$55,700 at the exchange rate at the time. CarExpert also said the EHS4 already sells in Nepal, but Australian pricing has not been announced. ²¹³

CarExpert said Hongqi is owned by China FAW Group, which it described as founded in 1953 and later established Hongqi in 1958 as China’s first passenger vehicle brand. The same report said Hongqi continues to offer ultra-exclusive models such as the V8-powered Golden Sunflower Guoli, priced from ¥7.18 million, and noted that the EHS5 and E-HS9 have both received five-star Euro NCAP ratings. ²³