China's Hongqi cars accelerate move into overseas markets

The luxury Hongqi car brand of China FAW Group – based in Changchun, capital city of Northeast China's Jilin province – is continuing to accelerate its move into overseas markets, after having recorded growth in international sales in the past few decades on the back of continuing innovation, according to local media reports.

In September 2021, Hongqi's strategic model – the pure electric smart SUV E-HS9 – began exports to Norway, which became an important milestone for China's high-end national auto brands to export their products to the European market in batches.

With the terminal deliveries starting in earnest in 2022, the Hongqi E-HS9 has won the top three slots in Norway's large and medium-sized luxury SUV segment – attributed to its excellent product performance and design.

In recent years, China FAW Group has actively planned its global expansion. At present, its overseas business covers 85 countries and regions and 16 international production capacity cooperation projects have been established in South Africa, Tanzania, Pakistan and other markets while global innovation R&D centers have been established in Germany and Austria. The group has formed an automobile industry supply chain integrating R&D, procurements, manufacturing, logistics and marketing.

Focusing on countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, Hongqi's overseas team is widely said to have achieved breakthroughs in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia in only three years. Moreover, it has opened up marketing channels in 17 countries and successfully entered high-end markets such as Norway, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.