Hongqi reportedly plans three-SUV Australian EV debut

Hongqi confirms three electric SUVs for Australia

Hongqi has confirmed that its Australian entry will begin with three electric SUVs, with the brand to be sold locally under the abbreviated HQ name. Across CarExpert, PerthNow and related reporting cited in those stories, the first confirmed trio is the E-HS9 large SUV, joined by the smaller EHS4 and EHS5, with a sedan also foreshadowed for later. The local launch is planned for November 2026, while first customer deliveries are expected in January 2027. CarExpert and PerthNow also report that HQ is preparing a national dealer network and positioning itself against premium brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi and Lexus. sourceIds ¹²³⁵

What is confirmed about the first three models

The E-HS9 is the flagship and the first model already associated with HQ’s Australian launch plans. CarExpert and its syndicated PerthNow article say it will be shown locally in November before reaching dealerships in 2027, while CarExpert’s later reporting says the EHS4 should be unveiled in November 2026 and the EHS5 is expected around April 2027. CarExpert describes the EHS4 as a five-seat, five-door compact SUV and the EHS5 as a larger mid-size SUV. The same reporting says the EHS4 uses rear-wheel drive, while the EHS5 is available overseas in rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive forms. sourceIds ¹²⁵

CarExpert says Hongqi’s Australian line-up is still short of final local specification detail, so the figures it publishes for the EHS4, EHS5 and E-HS9 are overseas references rather than confirmed Australian specs. For the EHS4, those overseas details include a 400V system, a 67.1kWh LFP battery, 160kW and 240Nm from a rear-mounted motor, up to 420km of WLTP range, and DC charging from 30 to 80 per cent in about 20 minutes. CarExpert also says the EHS4 has MacPherson strut front suspension, a multi-link rear setup, 18-inch alloy wheels, a 14.6-inch touchscreen, an 8.8-inch digital cluster, and 393 litres of luggage space expanding to 1300 litres with the rear seats folded. sourceIds ¹²

Overseas specifications and equipment referenced for HQ’s SUVs

For the EHS5, CarExpert reports an overseas 400V package with an 85kWh LFP battery, 210kW and 317Nm in rear-drive form, and 412kW and 623Nm in all-wheel drive form. The same article says WLTP range is claimed at 550km for rear drive and 522km for all-wheel drive, while DC fast-charging is said to reach up to 265kW and take around 20 minutes for a 10 to 80 per cent recharge. Equipment listed overseas includes an augmented-reality head-up display, acoustic glass, a panoramic glass roof, synthetic-leather upholstery, heated, ventilated and massaging front seats, and heated outboard rear seats. sourceIds ¹²

For the E-HS9, CarExpert says the overseas model uses a 400V electrical system and a 120kWh battery with all-wheel drive, producing 160kW and 300Nm at the front axle and 245kW and 450Nm at the rear. The reported 0-100km/h time is 4.9 seconds and WLTP range is 515km. CarExpert also says the E-HS9 can be configured with six or seven seats, with 22-inch alloy wheels and air suspension available on some variants, and a cabin featuring leather upholstery, multiple 16.2-inch displays and an electric panoramic glass roof. sourceIds ¹²

Earlier reporting from GoAuto and CarExpert said the right-hand-drive E-HS9 uses a 120kWh battery and claims 515km of WLTP range, while GoAuto quoted a dual-motor output of 362kW and a 0-100km/h time of 5.5 seconds. The later CarExpert piece instead lists the motors as 160kW/300Nm front and 245kW/450Nm rear, with a 4.9-second sprint. Those figures are not identical, so the different source and date need to be preserved rather than blended into a single claimed specification. sourceIds ²⁶⁷

Timing, sales targets and market positioning

Hongqi’s Australian timing has moved from an initial 2026 market-entry expectation to a more specific November 2026 launch plan in later reporting. CarExpert, PerthNow and the Ground News item all say first customer deliveries are expected in January 2027, and both CarExpert and the Ground News report say the brand expects all three SUVs to be in showrooms by mid-2027. CarExpert and PerthNow also report an initial sales goal of about 1000 vehicles a month once the trio is in market, while PerthNow says HQ is aiming for 30,000 annual sales in the longer term. sourceIds ¹²³⁵

The same reporting says the brand will pitch itself as a luxury challenger rather than a value player. CarExpert and PerthNow say HQ intends to position its vehicles below key German rivals, while PerthNow quotes Jim Wu saying the brand wants to take market share from Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Those statements describe the company’s stated ambitions rather than results or confirmed buyer response. sourceIds ¹²³

Brand background and comparison context

Hongqi’s Australian launch also matters because it would be the first time FAW passenger cars are sold locally. GoAuto, CarExpert and AFR all identify Hongqi as China’s oldest passenger-car brand, founded in 1958 by FAW, which itself dates to 1953 and has sold only heavy vehicles in Australia until now. CarExpert and GoAuto also note Hongqi’s connection to state limousines and its premium positioning, while AFR says the E-HS9 is expected to arrive next year as the Australian distributor’s first model. sourceIds ⁵⁶⁷⁴

The comparison set in the reporting includes established premium electric SUVs such as the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, Cadillac Vistiq and Volvo EX90 for the E-HS9, the Audi Q4 e-tron and upcoming electric Mercedes-Benz GLA for the EHS4, and the Tesla Model Y, Zeekr 7X and BMW iX3 for the EHS5. CarExpert and PerthNow also say Hongqi’s focus in Australia will be battery-electric vehicles, even though some Chinese-market Hongqi products use hybrid technology. Those comparisons are drawn by the cited publications and should be read as context, not as confirmed Australian positioning of each final variant. sourceIds ¹²⁵⁷