China-based automaker Hongqi plans to bring its business outside of its home country and onto the worldwide market. The choice of the pilot vehicle is a bit unusual, though.
Specifically, Hongqi plans to begin its international expansion with the high-end luxury market. The company is already working on a limousine that would rival the modern Rolls-Royces.
It has to be noted that, while not widely known outside of China, Hongqi nonetheless has a solid portfolio as a luxury car manufacturer. For one thing, it has manufactured stretch limos for China nation leaders. It also constitutes a part of the FAW Group, one of the country’s largest automotive corporations.
Furthermore, Hongqi hired Rolls-Royce ex-Chief Designer Giles Taylor last year. He promised back then that the company would produce a completely new vehicle whose design would be inspired by the culture and tradition of the ancient China. He also admitted that going up against a respectable British marque with 114 years of carmaking experience would be by no means easy.
