In 1958, China’s first HONGQI sedan was launched in Changchun, China, which is a Chrysler as a blueprint, by virtue of handmade technology knocked into the sedan, its emergence is not only a breakthrough in China’s automobile industry from scratch, but also a symbol of China’s national image and the spirit of the famous family. In 1959 HONGQI cars were unveiled in a military parade in China, officially announcing to the world the birth of China’s automobile industry. Since then, HONGQI automobiles have frequently appeared in major diplomatic occasions, and have been given the mission of “national car”;In 2018, the HONGQI brand underwent a strategic restructuring, which focuses on the industry’s new energy and intelligentization tracks with the core concept of “Innovation, Excellence and Leadership”.From 2018 to 2024, the transformed HONGQI AUTO has realized seven years of positive sales growth, and such a leap not only confirms the success of HONGQI AUTO’s transformation, but also establishes its industry position as a premium brand in China.
The production of HONGQI Automobile’s PHEV models relies on FAW’s Changchun New Energy Plant and Foshan Intelligent Manufacturing Base, both of which are built to 4.0 production standards, realizing flexible production from traditional fuel models to new energy models. Changchun New Energy Plant is the world’s first fully digitalized plant, and its core production links include: intelligent stamping workshop, flexible welding workshop, green painting workshop, and PHEV exclusive assembly line. The factory adopts the German Schuler servo press production line, using aluminum and steel mixed material stamping technology to make the operation precision error is only ±0.2mm; welding workshop has 618 sets of KUKA robots to realize 100% automated welding, and the factory introduces the laser on-line measurement system for real-time monitoring of the accuracy of the car body, and at the same time, it also supports the frame welding of the exclusive battery pack for PHEVs; The fully automatic electrostatic spraying process is used in the coating workshop, with VOC emissions well below 20mg/m3. The final assembly of the vehicle adopts an intelligent torque management system and is equipped with assembly stations dedicated to the hybrid system, which utilizes high-voltage system safety testing equipment to assemble the vehicle. The whole plant adopts the technology of digital twin to realize the all-round visualization of the production process, paired with the platform of 5G+Industrial Internet to achieve 100% equipment networking rate. In addition to the production base in China, HONGQI AUTO has signed a memorandum of cooperation with the National Petroleum Corporation of Thailand for the production of PHEV models in the mode of technology licensing + localized assembly; it is also negotiating with Brazilian and Chilean dealers on the mode of CKD assembly cooperation to make use of local vehicle production modes to introduce the production of HONGQI AUTO.
In order to accelerate the brand’s position in the industry, HONGQI AUTO has set up a number of R&D centers. In China, Changchun Hongqi New Energy Plant is also its core R&D center, which is mainly in charge of the complete vehicle R&D of PHEV models, including HONGQI AUTO’s PHEV-specific engines, special gearboxes and so on. The research base in Foshan is mainly responsible for the vehicle’s three electric systems. In the process of internationalization, HONGQI AUTOMOTIVE has set up a research center in Munich, Germany, which is mainly responsible for new energy and intelligent technology; it has established a user experience center in Austria, Norway, and provides customized services; and it has set up joint laboratories with a number of Austrian and German suppliers to deepen the localization cooperation.
The core benefits of the HONGQI Automotive PHEV model include:
Currently HONGQI Automobile’s PHEV models on sale include: HONGQI HQ9 PHEV, HONGQI HS7, HONGQI HS3 PHEV, HONGQI H5 PHEV、HONGQI H9 PHEV
HONGQI HS3 PHEV is a compact SUV, the front face of the vehicle continues the design characteristics of the HONGQI family, with a lightable center grille logo, highly recognizable at night. The LED lights at the front are divided into two parts, supporting automatic high and low beam adjustment and dynamic welcome light effect. The combination of deflector slots on both sides and aerodynamics reduces the vehicle’s wind resistance coefficient to 0.31Cd. On the side is a black roof with chrome trim that enhances the sense of visual hierarchy. The LED light strip running through the rear has a built-in dot-matrix light source that supports a dynamic flowing water steering effect, and the exhausts on both sides enhance the vehicle’s sporty attributes, and the matching silver guards on the rear side enhance the SUV’s hardcore demeanor. The interior cabin of the vehicle can be defined as an intelligent luxury design, the symmetrical center console can extend the visual width with horizontal lines, the 12.6-inch center control screen is equipped with the HONGQI Intelligent Link 4.0 system, which supports the 5G network; the 12.3-inch full LCD instrument panel can display the corresponding auxiliary information while driving. The interior seats are made of NAPPA leather, and the ergonomic “zero-gravity” seats ensure the comfort of long-distance driving. The vehicle is equipped with L2+ level assistance, which can support automatic parking, lane centering ACC function, intelligent traffic sign recognition and fatigue monitoring. HONGQI HS3 PHEV adopts a 1.5T hybrid-specific generator with a maximum power of up to 154 hp, and the intelligent energy management can support the free switching of pure electric, hybrid, and range-extended, and it has a pure electric range of 11km and a combined range of more than 1,000km.
Since the launch of the internationalization process in 2020, the HONGQI brand has entered more than 80 countries and regions around the world, and established a network of more than 120 overseas dealers. In Saudi Arabia, HONGQIH9 has been selected by the Crown Prince as the VIP reception model; HONGQI E HS9 has become the first Chinese-branded police SUV in Dubai. In addition, HONGQI Automotive has reaped many honors in the automotive industry, with the HONGQI HS7 PHEV model reportedly winning the iF Design Gold Award; and HONGQI’s Super Hybrid System winning the title of the World’s Top 10 Hybrid Systems for 2024.
From the first HONGQI car in 1958 to the super hybrid flagship model in 2024, HONGQI has written the history of China’s automobile industry’s struggle in 67 years, and with the current deepening globalization of the PHEV model, HONGQI is contributing to the world’s solutions for the Chinese automobile brand with its own strength.
