Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently on a two-day visit to China, a key diplomatic event. But for car lovers, there’s an interesting twist. Upon arriving in Tianjin, PM Modi was chauffeured in the Hongqi L5, the luxury sedan favoured by President Xi Jinping for official visits. This iconic “Made in China” vehicle is a symbol of national pride and is reserved for top dignitaries.
Hongqi L5: Cabin
On the inside, the Hongqi L5 has spacious seating with leather upholstery, wood trim, and cultural details like jade inlays. The rear seats offer massage, heating, and ventilation functions, along with entertainment screens. Also, the luxury cars get safety features, including adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, and 360-degree cameras.
Hongqi L5: Safety
Given Xi Jinping’s preference for official visits, the L5 is also equipped with bulletproof glass, bulletproof wheels, armour plating on the inside, and more top-class security features.
What makes it really special is that the Hongqi is only reserved for the top dignitaries and visitors. It was launched in 1958, originally produced only for Communist Party leaders. Also, during Mao Zedong’s era, the Hongqi cars were completely handmade.
Hongqi L5: Price & Legacy
Also, the Hongqi L5 is priced at about 5 million yuan ( Rs 7 crore approx), crediting it as China’s most expensive production car.
Xi Jinping
The legacy of the Hongqi traces back to 1958 with the CA72, originally produced only for Communist Party leaders. However, the Hongqi cars stopped production in 1981, but were revived in the mid-1990s. Later, Hongqi faced a slowdown between 1995-2006. In 2018, FAW relaunched Hongqi with a new design and “Made in China” luxury identity. Sales soared from 33,000 in 2018 to 300,000 in 2021. As per reports, in 2024, the Hongqi sales crossed 411,000 units, with plans for 1,000 overseas outlets in Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
