FAW’s high-end Chinese brand, Hongqi, will build cars using modular architecture from Stellantis-backed Leapmotor. The first model will go into production in the second half of 2026 to boost the oldest Chinese car brand’s NEV sales. Later, the first Leapmotor-based model with a Hongqi badge will enter the Global market.
In March 2025, Stellantis-backed Leapmotor and FAW Group signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on strategic cooperation. The two parties aimed to jointly develop new energy vehicles (BEV+EREV+PHEV) and cooperate on the parts supply chain. In late April, Reuters reported that Leapmotor will provide its electric platform to Hongqi.
Leapmotor to cooperate with Hongqi
According to the source, Leapmotor will provide the electric vehicle platform for Hongqi, China’s oldest passenger car brand. Leapmotor’s latest cars adopt the LEAP 3.5 modular architecture. It supports the 800V high-voltage system, CTC 2.0 technology, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8650 chip, and the 27-in-1 integrated thermal management system.
It seems that the new Hongqi car will stand on the Leapmotor’s LEAP 3.5 platform. A person familiar with the matter also confirmed this information, stating that the new Hongqi car (codenamed G117) will be based on the same platform that underpins the recently launched Leapmotor B10. During the Shanghai Auto Show 2025, Leapmotor CEO Zhu Jiangming claimed that his company will jointly develop a model for overseas markets. This model will go into production in the second half of 2026 under the Hongqi brand.
The Hongqi chief designer, Giles Taylor, said that despite using the Leapmotor platform, the appearance and driving experience will continue the existing design style of Hongqi and reflect the concept of Chinese aesthetics. Giles Taylor mentioned that Hongqi will “add its own magic” to the car.
Editor’s comment
As we have previously mentioned, Hongqi electric vehicles suffered from slow sales in China. One of the core reasons for this is the high price of the brand’s NEVs, which isn’t on par with other luxury EV makers. The cooperation with Leapmotor may help Hongqi to launch a lower-priced product. However, it will also face a challenge of biased customers. Hongqi’s high-end cars will be based on the same platform that underpins the mass-market Leapmotor B10, with a starting price of 13,850 USD.
