Luxury Enters the German Market with a Seven-Seat Electric SUV. , New Hongqi E-HS9 SUV 2024

China's oldest car brand Hongqi enters the German market with a luxury, seven-seat electric SUV

The E-HS9 offers two battery options and a three-row layout for seven passengers, with a maximum range of 320 miles.

With prices starting from 80,000 Euros, the E-HS9 outperforms rivals such as the BMW X7 and offers luxury features.

In many ways, Germany is the epicenter of modern luxury vehicles; Brands such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Porsche set the standard in most categories. Even Britain's most prestigious brands are owned by German automotive groups, including Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Therefore, it seems only natural that Hongqi, China's most luxurious domestic brand, will enter the German market and compete for the spotlight.

Often referred to as the “Rolls-Royce of China” for its flashy vehicles and increasingly design language, Hongqi is owned by FAW, China's second-largest state-owned automaker. FAW hired Rolls-Royce's former chief designer Giles Taylor in 2018. Taylor's influence is clearly visible on the E-HS9 electric SUV, whose design hints at his previous work on the Cullinan.

Already having a presence in some European markets including Norway, Denmark and Iceland, Hongqi's entry into Germany with the all-electric E-HS9 follows Xpeng's last entry into the market with SUVs.

The E-HS9 offers an attractive design along with a three-row layout for seven passengers. It will be available in two battery configurations. The first can store 99 kWh and gives drivers a range of up to 289 miles (465 km) on the WLTP cycle. The second option, exclusive to the European market, offers a larger 120 kWh battery that increases the SUV's range to up to 320 miles (515 km) on a single charge.

Hongqi says the E-HS9 can make up 62 miles (100 km) of range in 10 minutes at a fast-charging station, thanks to a charging rate of up to 140 kW. There's room for all those batteries, thanks to an overall length of 205 inches (5209 mm), making it slightly longer than the BMW X7.

China's Hongqi Comes to Germany with Ambitious E-HS9 Electric Luxury SUV
Similar to Bavaria's full-size luxury SUV, the Hongqi offers three rows of seating for seven passengers. However, the model with the larger battery pack only comes with six seats. There's a greater emphasis on luxury with leather upholstery, but both models benefit from features like adaptive cruise control, LED matrix headlights, and more.

While Hongqi aspires to compete with Germany's luxury brands, it may face difficulties in doing so. Despite its impressive appearance, numerous Western reviews criticized the SUV for sloppy chassis calibration and perceived poor quality.

Prices for the E-HS9 start at €80,000 (about $86,700 at current exchange rates), while the Exclusive Long Range edition starts at €102,995 (about $116,600). For comparison, the price of the internal combustion engine-powered BMW X7 starts from 103,000 euros in Germany.

Source: https://www.carscoops.com/2024/04/chinas-hongqi-rolls-into-germany-w