China's Hong Qi (Red Flag) brand to mount luxury car offensive

Hong Qi HQ3

China’s first ever car maker, the appropriately named First Automobile Works (FAW), which operates joint ventures with Audi, General Motors, Mazda and Volkswagen, is planning to revive its 52-year-old Hong Qi (Chinese for Red Flag) brand to full strength with no less than five new models.
The Changchun-based company, whose CA72 limousine was famously used by Chairman Mao Tse-tung, recently received approval from China’s Ministry of Industry and Technology for a series of new models which Chinese media reports suggest includes three new alternative drive sedans and two luxury limousines – the latter of which is set to include a production version of Hong Qi’s Rolls-Royce inspired HQE sedan first shown as a concept at the 2005 Beijing auto show and a Range Rover challenging SUV revealed in concept car form at the 2009 Shanghai auto show.
FAW first rolled out the Hong Qi brand in 1958 at the behest of Chairman Mao Tse-tung. Its most contemporary model to date is the HQ3 based on the underpinnings and driveline of the Toyota Majesta.

Hong Qi (Chinese for Red Flag) brand logos