Hongqi, Brand Behind Xi Jinping's State Limousine, Enters Nepal
The luxury vehicle brand of China's state-owned FAW Group will unveil its electric SUV lineup at the NAIMA Mobility Expo, which begins on August 11
Hongqi, the Chinese luxury vehicle brand whose state limousine is used by President Xi Jinping, has entered Nepal's premium electric vehicle (EV) market, with its official debut scheduled at the NAIMA Nepal Mobility Expo 2026 later this month.
Advanced Automobiles Pvt. Ltd. will unveil Hongqi's electric SUV lineup at the six-day auto show beginning on August 11. The company has confirmed that the vehicles have already arrived in Nepal, although it has yet to disclose which models will be launched.
Hongqi, meaning "Red Flag" in Chinese, is the luxury marque of China's state-owned FAW Group. While President Xi travels in the Hongqi N701—a flagship state limousine developed exclusively for China's top leadership and not available for commercial sale—FAW produces a broad range of Hongqi vehicles for the consumer market, including battery-electric, hybrid and internal combustion engine models.
Sandeep Sharma, Head of Marketing at Advanced Automobiles, said the imported vehicles are undergoing customs clearance and will be formally unveiled during the mobility expo.
"The model will be unveiled at the NAIMA Expo," Sharma said, adding that pricing, specifications and other technical details would be announced at the launch.
He said sales have not yet begun as the vehicles are yet to be officially introduced to the market.
"For now, people should know that the Hongqi brand has entered Nepal," Sharma said.
According to FAW's website, Hongqi currently offers four fully electric passenger models: the E-HS9 and EHS7 SUVs, and the E-QM5 and EH7 sedans. The company also manufactures vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, hybrid systems and battery-electric drivetrains.
Advanced Automobiles, part of Nepal's Vishal Group, is the authorised distributor of French automaker Renault. With the addition of Hongqi, the company is expanding into Nepal's premium EV segment, where competition has intensified with the entry of several international brands.
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Founded on August 1, 1958, Hongqi was created by FAW Group as China's first domestically developed luxury car brand. For decades, its vehicles served as official transport for senior Chinese leaders and visiting foreign dignitaries before the marque was repositioned for the consumer market in 2018.
The transformation has fuelled rapid growth. According to the company, Hongqi sold more than 460,000 vehicles worldwide in 2025, an increase of 11.7 percent from the previous year, including about 149,000 new energy vehicles.
Today, Hongqi competes with established luxury brands such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz in China while expanding across overseas markets. Its flagship electric SUV, the E-HS9, has often been dubbed the "Chinese Rolls-Royce", reflecting a design language developed under the leadership of former Rolls-Royce design chief Giles Taylor.
