In an interview with socialbites.ca, market experts expect that the former Mercedes-Benz factory in Esipovo, near Moscow, will begin the assembly of cars of the Chinese premium brand Hongqi. By analogy with the Russian luxury brand Aurus, the cars of this automobile company are personally purchased by the Chinese government for the country’s top leadership.
This opinion was especially expressed by the founder of the Automarketologist project, Oleg Moseev, he believes that the Chinese brand Hongqi has the best chance to get on the Russian conveyor. The interlocutor notes that in the Hongqi series there are cars that are more profitable in production than executive limousines – premium sedans and crossovers.
“I can guess it will be Hongqi. The Mercedes-Benz factory is adapted for the production of premium brand cars.
In addition, there is a catastrophic shortage of premium cars that will be officially produced or imported in Russia. Hongqi recommends himself for this, because in China it is run by the first persons of the state, ”Moseev told socialbites.ca.
Also, according to him, the Russian premium car market needs models of various classes, and it is Hongqi that owns mid- and full-size crossovers, as well as sedans, including executive ones.
“I have information that Hongqi has endorsed one of their models in Russia. The appearance of OTTS in Hongqi is an indirect confirmation that we are talking about them.”
Moseev argues.
“socialbites.ca” WroteIt is planned to start the production of Chinese premium cars at the factory in the Solnechnogorsk district of the Moscow region, opened in 2017 by Mercedes-Benz. Maxim Shishko, CEO of Avtodom Podpiska, spoke about this at the Inter-Industry Auto Congress on Tuesday, March 21, the publication source did not reveal the names of technology partners from China, but emphasized that the Mercedes-Benz factory was created with one. Göz focuses on the production of cars in the premium segment of the market. According to Shishko,
In addition to equipment, the location of the plant in the Moscow region also meets these goals.
Any change in make and model requires re-equipment and reconfiguration of equipment, but in the case of the possible production of Hongqi machines at the Mercedes-Benz plant, this will require a change, not a complete replacement of machine tools and robots. Moseev is confident in introducing new patterns in technological maps.
Sergey Tsyganov, the author of the Russian Automobile Telegram channel, Sergey Tsyganov, agreeing with Moseev, is the only valued Chinese premium brand Hongqi comparable in status to Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce or Aurus.
According to him, Avtodom plans to produce not one, but two Chinese brands’ products at the former Mercedes-Benz factory.
“The Hongqi range basically only has mass-produced cars bearing its emblem. Some are built on the platform of the old Mazda 6, Tsyganov told socialbites.ca in an interview.
According to him, the most outstanding models of this brand may not be selected for domestic production in Russia, and above all, crossovers that will appeal to a wider audience than executive sedans. The interlocutor considers it logical to choose one of the Chinese enterprises producing premium electric cars as a second partner.
Li or XPeng
Sergei Burgazliev, an independent consultant in the automotive industry, believes that Avtodom plans to keep automobile production there while acquiring the Mercedes-Benz plant in Russia is an absolute plus.
“If Avtodom has a deal with one of the Chinese manufacturers, it could be Li, Hongqi or XPeng.
Parallel imports do not meet the demand for premium brands, which is not currently met in the country. Moreover, over the past 2-3 years, interest in Chinese premium cars has objectively increased,” Burgazliev told socialbites.ca.
In terms of technology and infotainment systems, Chinese cars offer the customer more choice than European ones, even rather expensive ones, he adds.
The deal is not closed yet
Mercedes-Benz leaving Russia and selling its assets to Avtodom dealer holding, announced in October 2022.
The press service of the Ministry of Industry and Trade told socialbites.ca that the transfer of Mercedes-Benz assets to the Avtodom dealer is being considered by the government commission to monitor foreign investments.
“Avtodom reseller can work on various options for industrial partnerships that will be possible to implement once the final decision on this transaction is made.”
— highlighted in the ministry’s press service.
Information appeared at the end of December last year that the FAW concern (owner of the Hongqi brand) has completed the certification of the Hongqi HS5 crossover in Russia. According to the certification document, the car of the Russian specification is equipped with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 218 hp. and all-wheel drive, although there are also front-wheel drive versions on the Chinese market. This model is based on the second generation Mazda 6 platform.
There are six models in the Hongqi line in the Chinese market.
The basic H5 sedan is comparable in size to the BMW 5 Series and is equipped with two petrol engines 1.5 and 1.8 with a capacity of 169 and 197 forces, respectively. 1.8 and 2.0 engines are provided for the larger H7 model. The flagship H9 has engines of 2.0 liters and 3.0 liters.
The average HS7 crossover in the series is larger than the German Mercedes-Benz GLE crossover, and the flagship model is the E-HS9 electric car equipped with two electric motors with a total power of 435 hp. It is comparable in size to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
The press service of the Avtodom company did not confirm, but did not deny, its intention to produce Chinese premium cars, including Hongqi, at the former Mercedes-Benz plant in the Moscow region. The statement of Autodom Subscription general manager Maxim Shishko in the press service of the company was called the special opinion of its employees.