FAW Hongqi, a Chinese luxury car brand, has announced that it is entering the Philippine automotive market with EVOxTerra as its official local distributor. This was announced at a press conference held at the Transnational Diversified Group (TDG) In.Hub in Taguig, where the brand revealed that the first-ever local FAW Hongqi dealership will soon open in the Bonifacio Global City (BGC). The brand is also in talks with other nationwide dealer groups for its future local expansion plans.
FAW Hongqi Overseas General Manager Wang Zuoguan expressed his excitement to provide Filipinos access to the company’s state-of-the-art design, luxury, and top-notch performance. FAW Hongqi Southeast Asia General Manager Wang Dan, who was not able to attend the press conference, shared via recorded video that EVOxTerra was chosen as the brand’s first dealer partner because it shares FAW Hongqi’s commitment to “long-term environmental protection, green mobility, and sustainable development.” Dan also emphasized that FAW Hongqi considers the Philippines as a crucial market.
For its initial model offering, FAW Hongqi Philippines will be selling four models, classified as New Energy Vehicles (NEV) or electric cars and internal combustion energy models (ICE). One of these models is the Hongqi E-HS9 electric crossover, which was first displayed at the 10th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit (PEVS) held in October 2022. The starting price of the E-HS9 in the Philippine market will be P4.980 million, which is the discounted price for the said model after taking Executive Order (EO) No. 12 into consideration. The EO temporarily removes import tariffs on EVs for three years, as of February 2023.
Hongqi did not release further details for the Philippine-spec E-HS9, but based on what we saw during the launch, the car promises a plush cabin experience – at least at initial seating. The brand has not divulged more details about the other three NEV or ICE models that it will be releasing for the Philippine market in the future, though the H5 executive sedan was also present during the launch.
EVOxTerra Vice President and General Manager Robert Shaw said, “With the country well on its way to recovery from the pandemic, we think this is an excellent time to further expand Hongqi’s global footprint.” The brand’s products are already exported to more than 20 countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, and the Philippines is seen as a crucial market for FAW Hongqi’s global expansion plans.
FAW Hongqi’s entry into the Philippine market presents an exciting opportunity for Filipinos to experience the brand’s luxury and top-notch performance but at a lesser price compared to European premium automakers. With the introduction of the Hongqi E-HS9 and other models, the brand hopes to contribute to long-term environmental protection, green mobility, and sustainable development in the country.
