Key Points
- The Hongqi EHS4 electric SUV has been approved for Australian sale, with its listing showing a 4,540mm length and a 1,824kg tare mass.
- Hongqi will sell in Australia under the HQ name, with first customer deliveries expected from mid-January 2027.
- Pricing, trims and Australian battery and range figures have not been confirmed.
Hongqi, China's oldest passenger car brand, is a step closer to Australian showrooms. Its EHS4 electric SUV has passed Australian vehicle approval, listed under the model code G117 with the marketing name HONGQI EHS4.
The brand will operate locally as HQ through distributor Greentech Smart EV. HQ Australia CEO Jim Wu has said first customer deliveries are expected from mid-January 2027. Zecar first discussed the Australian opportunity with Hongqi executives at Auto Shanghai 2025.
What the Australian approval listing shows
The EHS4 appears on the federal vehicle approval database as vehicle type approval VTA-066788 20261105. It is classed as an MA passenger vehicle in station wagon form, with five seats, four side doors and one rear door.
The listing gives a tare mass of 1,824kg and a gross vehicle mass of 2,247kg. It also shows an unbraked towing limit of 750kg.
HQ EHS4 Australian approval listing
Detail | Listing |
Approval number | VTA-066788 20261105 |
Make and model | HONGQI G117 (marketing name EHS4) |
Body and seating | Station wagon, five seats |
Tare mass | 1,824kg |
Gross vehicle mass | 2,247kg |
Towing (braked trailer) | 0kg listed |
Towing (unbraked trailer) | 750kg |
Running clearance | 170mm |
Size: slightly bigger than the overseas EHS4
The Australian listing gives a length of 4,540mm, a width of 1,890mm, a height of 1,655mm and a wheelbase of 2,740mm. That is a little longer and wider than the overseas EHS4, which is listed at 4,520mm by 1,873mm. It also sits close to the Leapmotor B10, which shares its underpinnings.
The EHS4 will uses Leapmotor's LEAP3.5 architecture, the same platform as the B10. It is the first model to come from the FAW and Leapmotor partnership, which was signed in March 2025.
Hongqi EHS4 and Leapmotor B10 dimensions compared
Measure | EHS4 (Australian listing) | EHS4 (overseas) | Leapmotor B10 (Australia) |
Length | 4,540mm | 4,520mm | 4,515mm |
Width | 1,890mm | 1,873mm | 1,885mm |
Height | 1,655mm | 1,647mm | 1,665mm |
Wheelbase | 2,740mm | 2,750mm | 2,735mm |
Battery, motor and charging: expected, not confirmed
The EHS4 will reportedly share the B10's hardware. That would mean a 160kW and 240Nm rear-mounted motor and a 67.1kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, with peak DC fast-charging of 168kW.
Like the B10, an extended-range version is expected in some overseas markets. HQ has not confirmed whether Australia will get it.
Overseas, the cabin has a 14.6-inch touchscreen and an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. The dashboard, door trims and steering wheel are restyled compared with the B10.
Who is behind the HQ brand
Hongqi is owned by state-owned automaker FAW and is best known for government limousines. In Australia it will trade as HQ, run by Greentech Smart EV. Jim Wu is CEO and managing director.
Wu has said HQ wants to sit alongside Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi, and expects to take sales from Range Rover. He has also said HQ will price below key German rivals.
HQ joins a growing group of Chinese premium brands in Australia, including Zeekr and Denza, with Avatr due in 2027.
Lineup and launch timing
HQ has confirmed three electric SUVs for Australia:
- E-HS9: a large flagship SUV, on sale in China since 2020, due to debut in Australia first.
- EHS4: the compact SUV that has now passed approval.
- EHS5: a mid-size SUV, which is expected in showrooms in April 2027.
Australian pricing has not been announced. For reference, the EHS4 is priced at 59.99 lakh in Nepal, about A$55,700 at the launch exchange rate. That is an overseas price and not a guide to Australian pricing. The EHS4 has also been spotted testing in Australia.
What it means for Australian buyers
The EHS4 shares its underpinnings with a Leapmotor model that sells as one of Australia's cheapest electric SUVs. How HQ justifies a premium over that car will shape its pitch.
While pricing is pending, buyers can compare current electric SUVs in Zecar's EV database.
Anyone planning a premium EV should also sort out charging early. Zecar's home EV charger installation service can arrange quotes from local installers.
What is still unconfirmed
- Australian pricing, trim levels and equipment.
- Battery size, motor output and range for the Australian model.
- Whether a braked towing rating will be published.
- Whether an extended-range version will come to Australia.
- The final launch date and dealer locations.
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About the author
Danny is a consultant and entrepreneur working at the cutting edge of the electric vehicle and energy transition. He is passionate about educating and helping consumers make better decisions through data.
