According to Nikkei, Chinese FAW Group intends to begin selling its cars under the premium brand name Hongqi in Japan, starting with an unnamed hybrid and following up with a battery SUV envisioned as a key product for that market.
The specifics are unclear. The source does mention that the EV will offer up to 690 km (428 miles) of range. If true, the mystery SUV could be the Hongqi E-HS9 shown in our gallery and the video here. It is 5.2 meters (203 inches) long and comes powered by two electric motors jointly rated at 550 PS (444 hp / 331 kW). As a high-tech premium model, it has as many as six displays inside in all trim versions.
The expected price is 11 million Yen. Nikkei reports that all cars will continue to be assembled in China with some adjustments made for compatibility with Japanese charging terminals. FAW also plans to open at least a few showrooms in Tokyo and Osaka and launch offline sales in 2022.
It would not be the first time China exports its EVs to Japan. Certain battery-powered commercial transports are already in use there, and BYD sells a mid-size sedan EV there for 3,850,000 Yen. Having said that, the model is not readily available and largely lands in corporate and state-owned car fleets.