Hongqi's Australian importer is weighing a ute for its local HQ range, with a decision expected within three to six months and a suggested sales requirement of 500-1,000 vehicles a month.

The ute remains a proposal, with discussions and negotiations underway with FAW, according to Jim Wu, Founder, Managing Director and CEO of importer Greentech Smart EV.

Speaking at the HQ Australian launch in Melbourne on 11 November 2026, attended by CarSauce, Wu outlined ambitions for a five-model range comprising three SUVs, a sedan and the ute.

Wu said Australia was the main focus of his business, with New Zealand also in his plans, and suggested monthly sales of 500-1,000 would justify developing a ute positioned at the luxury end of the market.

He pointed to FAW's truck-building background as a technical foundation for the project.

The ute and sedan would expand a three-SUV line-up spanning small, medium and large models, with Wu aiming for at least 1,000 sales a month from those SUVs.

With all five models, he hopes to reach 2,500-3,000 monthly sales.

Wu envisages the sedan sitting between the medium and large segments, while HQ's Australian strategy is exclusively battery-electric rather than including plug-in hybrids.

The range begins with the six-seat electric E-HS9 flagship SUV.

Wu said the EHS4 was already on a vessel and due the following month, with the medium-sized EHS5 completing the initial SUV trio.

CarSauce has previously spotted the EHS5 testing in Euroa, Victoria.

Wu said right-hand-drive versions of the manufacturer's new-generation vehicles typically follow their left-hand-drive counterparts by six months, and outlined plans to pursue ANCAP assessment across the range.

The retail strategy centres on a limited number of dealer owners handling higher volumes, rather than spreading sales across many investors.

Wu's group plans to operate five dealerships initially, with his business partner overseeing dealer operations while Wu manages manufacturer relationships.

After-sales support is also part of the expansion discussion, with Wu identifying sufficient sales volume as important to servicing vehicles.

He raised online parts ordering with direct logistics delivery as an approach he had worked on with JD.com in China.

Previous slide Next slide