Shanghai (ZXZC)- FAW Group's Hongqi reported a July sales volume exceeding 17,500 units, which surged 99% over the previous year. For the first seven months, the premium auto brand saw its sales skyrocket 108% year on year to 875,000 units, completing 44% of its 200,000-unit annual sales target.

As one of sales contributors of Hongqi, the Hongqi H5's refreshed version formally hit the market at the 2020 China Changanchun International Automobile Expo in July and significantly contributed to the brand's July sales growth.

(All-new Hongqi H5, photo source: Hongqi)

Compared to the old version, the new H5 newly offers the variant powered by 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that pumps out up to 124kW and peak torque of 258N·m, paired with 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Besides, the powertrain solution consisting of a 1.8-liter turbocharged engine and 48-volt mild hybrid system is also a new change to the H5's trim levels.

Hongqi's all-new large-sized all-electric SUV, the Hongqi E-HS9, made its world's debut on July 28 with its presale kicking off at the same time. The new BEV model can be regarded as the mass-produced version of the Hongqi E115 concept that was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2019. It is expected to hit the market in the fourth quarter of the year.

(Hongqi E-HS9, photo source: Hongqi)

Apart from the E-HS9, the automaker plans to roll out the Hongqi H9, the HS7 2.0T and the HS5 eco-friendly version in the rest of the year.

Wang Guoqing, vice president of FAW Group, revealed that Hongqi will roll out 3 to 5 new models per year over the next five years and it has already mapped out 24 to 25 new products.

FAW Group said in early January that 21 new models will be launched in the next five years under its premium brand Hongqi, with annual sales expected to exceed 600,000 units by 2025.

Xu Liuping, chairman of FAW Group, noted that 18 of the 21 new models will be new energy vehicles.