Chinese luxury carmaker Hongqi, best known for producing official limousines for Chinese president Xi Jinping and other senior government officials, is preparing to launch in Australia as the first specifications for its first model are now coming to light.

The brand, which will be known locally as ‘HQ’, will enter the Australian market in early 2027 with the E-HS9, a large electric SUV designed to compete with established luxury models such as the Volvo EX90, Cadillac Vistiq, Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9.

According to the Australian Government’s Road Vehicle Descriptor database, the E-HS9 will be offered locally with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain, featuring a 202kW electric motor at the front and a 165kW motor at the rear. These figures add up to 367kW, though an official combined power output has yet to be confirmed.

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Measuring 5209mm long, 2010mm wide and riding on a 3110mm wheelbase, the E-HS9 is an enormous vehicle. It’s longer than a Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and considerably larger than many of Australia’s most popular family SUVs.

Other specifications confirmed for Australia include 21-inch alloy wheels with 265/45 tyres and a substantial tare weight of 2636kg. The documents also confirm that the E-HS9 will be offered in a six-seat configuration, rather than the seven-seat layout that’s available in some overseas markets.

Although local battery specifications have yet to be confirmed, overseas versions of the E-HS9 are available with battery capacities ranging from 84kWh to 120kWh, delivering claimed WLTP driving ranges of between 380km and 515km. Australian pricing, charging speeds and the final equipment list are also still to be announced.

Luxurious car cockpit interior with a wide digital dashboard and center console, front seats in light gray leather, and ambient lighting along the doors and floor.
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Hongqi was established in 1958 and is owned by Chinese automotive giant FAW Group. The company has a long history of producing luxury vehicles for China’s political leadership, although it has expanded into mainstream passenger vehicles and electric cars in recent years.

Its Australian operations will be handled by independent distributor Greentech, which plans to establish a national network of 15 dealerships. The E-HS9 will be the first of three electric SUVs offered locally, with the smaller EHS4 and EHS5 expected to follow within six months of the flagship’s arrival.

First customer deliveries of the E-HS9 are currently expected in January 2027, with further details, including Australian pricing, likely to be revealed at the brand’s official launch event next week.