Hongqi (Honchi)

Hongqi (Honchi, "Red Banner") is a brand of Chinese cars. It is part of the FAW Group automobile concern. At the beginning of 2024, the Hongqi brand is presented in 15 countries of the world.

The name of the Hongqi brand is written in Chinese with two corresponding characters (红旗), which should sound like "Hongqi," but the name Honchi was chosen to adapt the name for the Russian audience. The design of the proprietary grille with 12 vertical lamellae symbolizes the cyclic signs of the duodenal cycle - Earth branches.

Business in Russia

In 2024, the official distributor of Hongqi cars in the Russian market is FAV Eastern Europe LLC.

2024

Increase in annual sales in Russia by 113% to 7220 units

The volume of sales of cars of the premium brand Hongqi in Russia reached 7220 units in 2024, which is 113% more than in 2023. TAdviser got acquainted with such data in January 2025.

In the total volume of global sales of the brand, Russia took second place after the PRC. In total, 411.7 thousand cars were sold in the world under the Hongqi brand in 2024, which is 11% more than in 2023. Corporate sales in Russia accounted for 49% of total sales.

The brand's lineup in 2024 included seven models: H5 and H9 sedans, including an extended version of the H9 +, four crossovers - an electric E-HS9, HS7, HS5 and HS3, as well as a business minivan HQ9. The most popular among Russian buyers was the crossover HS5 with a result of 2875 units sold, which was 374% higher than in 2023.

Hongqi Russia Executive Director Ivan Savelyev said that 2025 promises to be especially interesting for the premium car segment due to pent-up demand from premium car owners who have not resolved the issue of replacing their car with a new one.

In 2024, the company expanded the geography of the "Help on the Roads" program to include the Republic of Belarus. 24-hour support is available to owners, including departure of the mobile repair team, replacement of wheels, engine start and fuel supply.

In the warehouses of spare parts, the assortment expanded to 7 thousand items. In 2024, dealers shipped more than ₽650 million components, and investments in filling the central warehouse amounted to ₽1,1 billion. The average delivery time for parts in Russia varies from one day in Moscow to 12 days in remote regions.

In 2025, the company plans to present three new models on the Russian market: the H6 liftback, the HS7 crossover and the L1 luxury sedan. The new HS7 will be available in a seven-seater version, while the H6 and HS7 will receive a 245 hp engine. Hongqi intends to expand the dealer network to 60 centers and sell 12 thousand cars in Russia.^[1]

Increase of dealer network in the Russian Federation by 45%

In 2024, the HONGQI brand (Honchi, Red Banner) increased the dealer network in the Russian Federation by 45%. As of December 2024, the brand is presented in almost all key regions of the Russian Federation: 36 showrooms in 23 cities of Russia and the Republic of Belarus.

In 2024, dealerships were opened in cities such as, Tyumen,, Krasnoyarsk,, Kemerovo,, Khabarovsk,,, Orenburg Magnitogorsk Tyumen Artem Perm Chelyabinsk,,,,,. The Tula brand Ryazan Saratov Yekaterinburg To Moscow is represented by 5 dealers and 9 showrooms. Among the capital's partners are such major car dealers as Major,,, and a number of others Avilon Pan-car who traditionally specialized in the premium segment. There are 4 St. Petersburg dealers operating in: the flagship Avangard, Aurora Auto Center and others, the rest accounts for 23 more Russia dealerships. In 2025, the development of the network will continue and the total number of dealerships in the Russian Federation will grow to 60.

We are carefully approaching the expansion of the dealer network, while quality is at the forefront in every sense. The entire customer path from choosing a car to its service and subsequent resale is built with the understanding of the expectations of discerning customers. High standards apply to all new HONGQI dealerships, with each new dealer adapting their premises to standards based on their capabilities and having the freedom to organize space. And in 2025, it is planned to open a number of flagship HONGQI centers in Russia, - commented Ivan Savelyev, Executive Director of HONGQI in Russia.

22 dealers in Russia

By March 2024, the company's dealer network in Russia expanded to 22 centers and its development continues.

2023: Start of car deliveries to Russia

Hongqi officially entered the Russian market in May 2023. During the first year of its presence, the formation of a dealer network in key regions of the country was launched, partners were involved. During 2023, more than 3,300 cars were transferred to dealer orders, a spare parts warehouse was formed and filled, and supply chains were established.

Chronicle

2023

More than 370 thousand cars were sold. Half of sales are crossovers HS5

More than 370,000 Hongqi vehicles were sold in China for 2023. The bestseller is the HS5 crossover, which accounts for half of the brand's total sales.

Second Generation L5 Release

In 2023, also at the Shanghai Motor Show, the second generation Hongqi L5 premiered. In its design, respect for the traditions of China was even brighter. For example, noticeably prominent round headlights evoke pronounced retro analogies and symbolize the Earth. The internal design of the headlights exactly repeats the view of the Heavenly Temple, located inside the Forbidden City - only the Emperor and his heir had access to this temple.

The Hongqi L5 is being built with a significant share of handmade, exclusively custom-made. The customer is invited to a special atelier at the Hongqi design center, where brand representatives discuss with him the slightest details of the equipment and decoration of the future car. The client is offered a choice of many high-quality finishing materials, personal communication with designers, detailed consultations. After the purchase, a special away team is engaged in servicing each L5, arriving at the owner from the brand headquarters, taking the car to the service, conducting all the necessary operations and again delivering the car to the client.

2019: HS5 and HS7 crossover release. Sold 100 thousand cars per year

In 2019, the release of a premium full-size crossover HS7 and a mid-size crossover HS5 took place. In the first three years of presence in a wide market, sales volumes increased more than 20 times - from 4702 cars in 2017 to more than 100,000 in 2019.

2017: H5 business sedan launch

Since 2016, Hongqi has begun to actively enter the mass market as a premium brand. In 2017, the H5 business sedan appeared on the market.

2013: L5 sedan release

The L5 sedan premiered in 2013 at the Shanghai Motor Show and began production in 2014. The L5 became the first V12 model in the history of the PRC automotive industry and is considered by experts to be "the most expensive car in the history of the automotive industry in China."

1966: Launch of the Hongqi CA770, a three-decade model

In 1966, the Hongqi CA770 was introduced, produced for more than three decades - from 1966 to 1999, a total of about 1,600 cars of this model were produced.

1959: Release of the first Hongqi car CA72

Hongqi specialists studied with automakers and testers from different countries. The first model of the brand was the Hongqi CA72, produced from 1959 to 1967 and built in the amount of 203 copies - 198 in the layout "sedan," 3 - "limousine" and 2 - "convertible." In 1960, the Hongqi CA72 was shown at the Leipzig Fair in the GDR, and in 1965 at the Paris Motor Show.

1958: Creation of a car brand for the Chinese leadership at the FAW concern

The Hongqi automobile brand (Honchi, "Red Banner") appeared in February 1958, when, by personal order of Chairman Mao Zedong, preparations began within the framework of the First Auto Works (FAW) for the release of a new line of cars. The task was to ensure the leadership of China with executive cars, not only corresponding to the quality, safety and comfort of luxury class, but also combining the most modern technologies. It was decided to give the brand the name Hongqi (Red Banner). On the one hand, in honor of the color of the national flag of the PRC, on the other, it was this brand that was destined to become the "standard-bearer," a symbol of the country's progress and achievements, and proudly represent the PRC at the international level.

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