Key Highlights:
- Hongqi L5, also called “Red Flag,” serves as China’s official state car with a V12 engine producing 402 BHP and weighing over 3 tonnes
- The brand achieved record sales of 411,777 units in 2024, marking seven consecutive years of growth for FAW Group’s flagship marque
- Xi Jinping’s diplomatic use of the Hongqi L5 during the 2025 SCO Summit exemplifies China’s “Made in China” luxury vehicle strategy
Hongqi L5: The State Vehicle of Choice for World Leaders
The Hongqi L5 limousine has emerged as China’s premier diplomatic vehicle, carrying both symbolic weight and impressive engineering credentials. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attendance at the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Tianjin, the Chinese government provided him with the same Hongqi L5 model that serves as President Xi Jinping’s preferred state car. This diplomatic gesture underscores the vehicle’s significance as both a luxury conveyance and a symbol of Chinese manufacturing excellence.
The Hongqi L5 represents far more than mere transportation for high-ranking officials. When Xi Jinping previously visited India for talks with PM Modi in Mahabalipuram in 2019, he traveled in this same model, establishing a precedent for its use in high-level diplomatic exchanges. The decision to provide Modi with the identical Hongqi L5 during his China visit reflects the careful diplomatic choreography that surrounds state visits and the importance China places on showcasing its domestic automotive capabilities.
This strategic use of the Hongqi L5 in diplomatic settings demonstrates China’s broader ambitions to project technological sophistication and manufacturing prowess on the global stage. The Hongqi L5 serves as a rolling advertisement for Chinese engineering excellence, challenging traditional perceptions about luxury automotive manufacturing being dominated by European and American brands.
'रेड फ्लैग' यानी Hongqi, राष्ट्रपति शी जिनपिंग की पसंदीदा आधिकारिक कार है, जिसे उन्होंने महाबलीपुरम समिट के दौरान भारत में भी इस्तेमाल किया था। #PMModi #Hongqi #ChinaVisit #SCO2025 #viralpost2025 #RoyalPatrika pic.twitter.com/GUVHfJBm3M
— Royal Patrika (@PatrikaRoyal) August 31, 2025
Engineering Excellence and Technical Specifications
- The Hongqi L5 features a formidable 6.0-litre V12 engine generating 402 BHP and 550 Nm of torque
- Measuring 5,555mm in length and weighing over 3,000kg, the armored limousine can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in 8.5 seconds
The technical specifications of the Hongqi L5 position it among the world’s most capable luxury limousines. The massive 6.0-litre V12 engine produces 402 BHP and delivers 550 Nm of torque, enabling the substantial vehicle to achieve impressive performance despite its considerable weight. With dimensions of 5,555mm in length, 2,018mm in width, and 1,578mm in height, the L5 commands an imposing presence on any roadway.
The vehicle’s all-wheel-drive system and advanced safety features reflect its role as a secure transport solution for world leaders. The Hongqi L5 incorporates adaptive cruise control, comprehensive parking sensors, and 360-degree camera systems to ensure maximum safety for its high-profile occupants. The interior appointments match the vehicle’s luxury credentials, featuring spacious seating with premium leather upholstery, wood trim accents, and cultural touches including jade inlays that reflect Chinese aesthetic traditions.
Performance capabilities include a top speed of 190 kmph, though the focus clearly remains on comfort and security rather than outright speed. The substantial fuel tank capacity of 105 litres ensures extended range capabilities essential for state visits and diplomatic missions. The vehicle’s seven-seat configuration provides flexibility for accommodating security personnel and diplomatic staff as required.
At approximately 5 million yuan (roughly ₹7 crore), the Hongqi L5 represents China’s most expensive production vehicle, reflecting both its luxury positioning and the advanced engineering incorporated into its design. This pricing places it in direct competition with established luxury limousine manufacturers while establishing Hongqi as a serious contender in the ultra-luxury automotive segment.
The Remarkable Rise of China’s Flagship Automotive Brand
- Hongqi achieved record sales of 411,777 vehicles in 2024, representing 17.4% year-on-year growth
- New energy vehicle sales surged to 115,000 units in 2024, indicating 43.7% annual growth
- The brand’s transformation from 33,000 units in 2018 to over 400,000 in 2024 demonstrates unprecedented expansion
The Hongqi brand’s commercial success story represents one of the most dramatic turnarounds in automotive history. Following FAW Group’s strategic relaunch in 2018, Hongqi sales exploded from just 33,000 units in 2018 to over 100,000 in 2019, then 200,000 in 2020, and 300,000 in 2021. This remarkable growth trajectory culminated in 2024 with record-breaking sales of 411,777 vehicles, marking the seventh consecutive year of year-on-year growth.
The brand’s diversification strategy has proven particularly effective in capturing market share across multiple segments. Hongqi’s flagship models, the H5 and HS5, achieved cumulative sales exceeding 1.1 million units in 2024, demonstrating strong consumer acceptance of the brand’s expanded product portfolio. The introduction of specialized product lines, including the “Hongqi Golden Sunflower” ultra-luxury series and the “Hongqi New Energy” electric vehicle range in 2023, has broadened the brand’s appeal across different market segments.
New energy vehicle sales have emerged as a particularly strong growth driver, with 115,000 NEV units sold in 2024 representing a 43.7% year-on-year increase. This performance aligns with China’s broader push toward electrification and demonstrates Hongqi’s ability to adapt to evolving market demands while maintaining its luxury positioning.
FAW Group’s overall performance in 2024 further underscores the success of its Hongqi strategy, with total vehicle sales reaching 3.2 million units and revenue exceeding 550 billion yuan ($76.5 billion). The parent company’s strong financial performance provides the resources necessary to continue investing in Hongqi’s premium positioning and international expansion plans.
Hongqi Brand Sales Growth from 2018 to 2024
Historical Legacy and Future International Ambitions
- Founded in 1958 as China’s first luxury passenger car brand, Hongqi originally served exclusively Communist Party leaders
- International expansion plans include establishing 1,000 overseas outlets across Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia
- The brand’s evolution from political symbol to commercial success reflects China’s broader economic transformation
The Hongqi brand carries profound historical significance as China’s oldest passenger car marque, launched in 1958 by the state-owned First Automobile Works (FAW) Group. Originally conceived as transportation exclusively for Communist Party elite, early models like the CA72 and CA770 served as parade vehicles and official transport for visiting dignitaries throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Even Chairman Mao Zedong utilized Hongqi vehicles, though notably only after President Nixon’s historic 1972 visit to China.
The brand experienced significant challenges during the 1980s and 1990s, with production essentially halted in 1981 as Chinese leaders increasingly favored imported luxury vehicles over domestic alternatives. During this period, Hongqi survived by rebadging international models, including versions based on the Audi 100 and Lincoln Town Car from 1995 to 2006. The HQ3 model, derived from a Toyota Crown platform, failed to achieve commercial success, highlighting the difficulties facing Chinese luxury automotive brands in competing against established international competitors.
Xi Jinping’s presidency marked a decisive shift in the brand’s fortunes, with his deliberate choice to use Chinese-made Hongqi vehicles for state visits representing a departure from previous practices of utilizing host country vehicles. This strategic decision elevated Hongqi’s profile internationally while demonstrating China’s confidence in its domestic automotive capabilities.
Current international expansion plans reflect ambitious growth targets, with FAW announcing intentions to establish 1,000 overseas outlets across Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. The successful launch of models like the Hongqi H5 in Saudi Arabia demonstrates initial progress in penetrating international markets, supported by advanced technologies including over-the-air update capabilities and comprehensive driver assistance systems.
Closing Assessment
The Hongqi L5’s role in the 2025 SCO Summit exemplifies China’s strategic approach to soft power projection through automotive excellence. Xi Jinping’s consistent use of domestic vehicles for diplomatic purposes, combined with the provision of the same model to visiting leaders like PM Modi, demonstrates how China leverages its automotive achievements to reinforce broader messages about technological capability and manufacturing sophistication. The brand’s transformation from a struggling state enterprise to achieving over 400,000 annual sales reflects the broader success of China’s industrial policy and market reforms.
As China continues expanding its global influence, the Hongqi brand serves as both a practical diplomatic tool and a powerful symbol of the country’s economic evolution. The vehicle’s impressive technical specifications, combined with its rich historical heritage and contemporary commercial success, position it as a compelling example of how traditional Chinese enterprises can successfully compete in premium global markets while maintaining their cultural identity and political significance.
