Premium China carmaker Hongqi, known for Xi Jinping’s limos, to launch in Singapore in 2026

^{The Hongqi E-HS9 will kick off the launch of the premium Chinese brand in Singapore in the first half of 2026.}

Hongqi, the Chinese carmaker known for producing the state limousine used by Chinese President Xi Jinping and the country’s other top leaders, is coming to Singapore.

Eurokars Group will distribute the marque starting in the first half of 2026, with a showroom located at 19 Leng Kee Road near Queenstown.

The launch model will be the E-HS9, an electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) larger than the Range Rover. Eurokars said on July 17 that at least three other models are planned, including an electric saloon and two mid-size SUVs.

Targeting mid- to high-end car buyers, the models offered will not be limited to electric vehicles (EVs), said a Eurokars spokesperson.

While the exact version for Singapore has not been confirmed, the E-HS9 is available elsewhere with various motor and battery options, including a version that can cover more than 500km on a single charge.

Meaning “red flag” in Chinese, Hongqi is part of the state-owned FAW Group. Founded in 1958, it is China’s oldest domestic car brand. Today, its model line-up in China consists of saloon cars and SUVs.

Mr Karsono Kwee, chairman of multi-franchise dealer Eurokars Group, told The Straits Times that the timing is ripe for Hongqi’s entry into Singapore.

He noted that consumers here have become more receptive to Chinese car brands and models, thanks to their recent influx.

Describing the pricing to be “mid-range”, the motor magnate said the brand will be positioned slightly higher than some of the popular Chinese rivals to reflect “how Hongqi is more premium than others, in the design and the finishing”.

Singapore will be one of Hongqi’s first South-east Asian markets, following its debut in Myanmar in May as part of the brand’s globalisation strategy with EVs and petrol-hybrid models. The brand is already in the Middle East and parts of Europe.

Hongqi will be the 10th Chinese car brand introduced in Singapore since January 2024. Other recent entrants include Aion, Deepal, Dongfeng, Xpeng and Zeekr.

Motor dealers in Singapore have been keen to capitalise on the growing adoption of EVs, especially with Chinese brands, which are seen as being more technologically advanced than established carmakers from Japan and Germany.

Further fuelling the traders’ enthusiasm to introduce new car brands is the projected growth in the car market. This is driven by the release of more certificates of entitlement needed to register vehicles in Singapore.

In 2024, there were 42,579 car registrations, up 43.2 per cent from 29,725 in 2023.

Hongqi will join Eurokars’ stable of nearly 10 brands in Singapore, including BMW, Rolls-Royce, McLaren, Mini and Mazda.

The distributor, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, will launch IM Motors – a premium offshoot of MG, the English brand owned by Chinese state-owned giant SAIC – by end-2025.