Chinese President’s Luxury EV Brand Hongqi Enters Nepal, Prices Expected to Start at Rs 6 Million

Hongqi, the luxury automobile brand widely recognized for carrying the Chinese President and other senior state officials, is officially entering the Nepali market with its premium electric vehicles. The brand will make its public debut at the Nepal Mobility Expo 2026, where its electric SUV lineup will be showcased. Advanced Automobile Pvt. Ltd., the official distributor of Hongqi in Nepal, has already begun importing the vehicles following its dealership agreement with the Chinese automaker. Owned by China's state-run FAW Group, Hongqi has evolved from being an exclusive government vehicle brand into one of the world's fastest-growing luxury and electric vehicle manufacturers. The company plans to introduce one or two electric SUV models in the initial phase, with prices expected to start between Rs 6 million and Rs 6.5 million. Although the battery and motor specifications for the Nepali models have not yet been disclosed, the brand currently offers a range of battery-electric vehicles, including the E-HS9, EH7, EQM5, and E-HS7, with the E-HS9 expected to be among the first models to arrive. Established on August 1, 1958, Hongqi—meaning "Red Flag" in Chinese—was created by FAW Group at the request of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong to develop a world-class luxury vehicle for China. For decades, the brand was reserved for China's political leadership and visiting foreign dignitaries. Since adopting a broader commercial strategy in 2018, Hongqi has rapidly expanded into the global luxury vehicle market. In 2025, the company sold more than 460,000 vehicles worldwide, up 11.7% from the previous year, with nearly 149,000 of those being new energy vehicles (NEVs), underscoring its growing focus on electric mobility.