Before we begin, do you have any idea what the word Hongqi means? It means red flag, but why is it called the red flag in Chinese? This is where the story of Hongqi begins. Founded in 1958, it was the first Chinese luxury car company.
The Beginning of Hongqi Era
Hongqi was founded by the renowned Chinese automaker FAW, which is owned by the Chinese government, thus supported by it. The red flag represents Chinese communist ideology. It is a key symbol of the Chinese Communist Party and represents revolution, socialism, and the victory of the communist movement in China. At the time, the company was founded specifically to manufacture luxury government and presidential cars for Chinese officials, including Mao Zedong, who was one of the company's biggest supporters at the time. Its cars serving as government vehicles reflected China's ambition to build a prestigious and self-reliant domestic automotive industry, at a time when China was heavily dependent on foreign technology.
The company was a symbol of China's efforts at modernization and industrialization under communist leadership, proving that China was capable of building its own luxury vehicles rather than relying on foreign suppliers.
Hongqi became a symbol of Chinese luxury, just like Cadillac, Rolls Royce, and other similar companies represent the western luxury. Although it now manufactures luxury cars for foreign markets, it still has a rich history and carries an ideological symbol.
Hongqi's First Car: The Hongqi CA72
The Hongqi CA72 was the first model, inspired by American luxury sedans of the 1950s, such as the Chrysler Imperial. It featured distinctive features reminiscent of Chinese heritage, such as its grille that looks like a palace gate. Over the years, Hongqi continued to manufacture handcrafted luxury cars for Chinese leaders. Although the company experienced a period of decline in the 20th century, Hongqi returned to life in the 21st Century.
Hongqi Leads the Chinese Luxury Auto Industry
As witnessed in the Middle East, Hongqi has returned to the luxury car industry, expanding its presence across markets and achieving remarkable success. The Arab market welcomed it enthusiastically, and it recently produced luxury electric cars aimed at competing on a European level, like BMW, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes, etc...
Among its most prominent vehicles are:
Hongqi H9: A luxury sedan that reminds you of the BMW 7 Series’ elegance and beauty. It features numerous comfort features, such as seats with massage, ventilation, and cooling. It also features a rear screen for controlling the rear seats and the rear climate. A large central screen includes digital gauges for the driver. It features interior lighting, a large panoramic sunroof, and rear tables for the rear row.
Hongqi EHS9: A luxury six-seat electric SUV. Its interior is stunning, with the dashboard featuring three screens: for the gauges, the entertainment system, and a screen for the front passenger. It also includes luxurious, elegantly stitched leather seats, massage, heating, and cooling, a panoramic sunroof, and interior lighting.
Hongqi N701
This car has gained considerable media attention, as it was the vehicle in which Chinese President Xi Jinping visited US President Biden in 2022. It is a presidential limousine, rarely seen in public, nor has it been seen on the market. It is a luxurious armored limousine powered by a 6-liter, 12-cylinder engine producing 408 horsepower, also available in an 8-cylinder version.
Hongqi continues to manufacture Chinese presidential cars, as well as luxury vehicles for those who appreciate luxury. The company is known for offering comfort and luxury features at prices that are highly competitive with well-known European companies.
Senior Writer The quest for automotive knowledge began as soon as the earliest memories. Various sources information, even questionable ones, have been explored including video games, television, magazines, or even internet forums. Still stuck in that rabbit hole.
