Hongqi enters Spain: here is its lineup and the numerous problems it has faced in other markets

Hongqi has already presented its project for Spain. The luxury brand of China’s state-owned FAW group aims to establish itself through a proposition focused on design, equipment, and comfort. Yet its entry also prompts a review of its performance in other markets, where issues such as malfunctions, difficulties in obtaining spare parts, exorbitant spare part costs, and owner complaints have been documented.

The Spanish launch took place on October 28 in Madrid, with distribution handled by Kngloo, which plans to develop a network of 55 dealerships. The project includes presence in regions such as Galicia, Madrid, Catalonia, the Valencian Community, and Andalusia.

The initial offer for Spain consists of cars with internal combustion engines, while Hongqi does sell electric cars in other European markets, featuring models that, on paper, have good capabilities and are likely to be added to the offer in our country later as well.

Hongqi: Malfunctions, lack of spare parts, and owner complaints

One of the most recent incidents occurred in Denmark. The drivers' association FDM explained on October 22 that the importer Wismo informed 258 owners of the EHS7 and EH7 electric vehicles about the permanent disabling of six driving assistance functions. This decision came after issues including recurrent phantom braking that put passengers and other drivers at risk.

The functions affected include automatic parking, automatic braking when reversing, and lane change assistance. Additionally, the adaptive cruise control loses its automatic distance regulation. In other words, owners now have fewer functions than they did when they purchased the cars.

According to Wismo’s explanation, it was not possible to implement a solution that met all European homologation requirements simultaneously. The importer is offering financial compensation. This case raises an important question for any buyer: what response do they get when a promised feature does not work properly and the only solution is to remove it?

In Norway, criticism has come from the importer itself. ABC Nyheter published in February 2026 a report by Broom featuring statements from Knut Aas, the Hongqi representative in the country, about delays in model deliveries, computer-related issues, and persistent difficulties in obtaining parts. Aas admitted that this situation had harmed sales, complicated the work of dealers, and severely damaged the brand’s reputation.

The same report indicated that establishing a warehouse in the Netherlands could improve supply chain performance. It also noted that the Norwegian network had reduced from 44 to 33 dealers. Thus, the issue described went beyond a single malfunction: it affected the ability to serve customers after the cars were delivered.

But the main problems have been reported in China. There, an article published by the Chinese website Bitauto details multiple complaints from Hongqi owners about quality issues and difficulties in obtaining warranty repairs. The issues include interior finishes losing paint and a front illuminated emblem coming loose while the vehicle is in motion on HS5 models, as well as complaints about bulges in the tires.

One of the most concerning accounts comes from the owner of a plug-in hybrid H5, who claims to have experienced three coolant-related problems in just over 6,000 kilometers. According to his account, the latest incident resulted in the coolant tank breaking on a highway, with white smoke and coolant spreading over the engine. He also alleges that the after-sales service failed to contact him for over ten days.

From Forococheseléctricos, we have reached out to Kngloo, Hongqi’s distributor in Spain, to learn about the latest developments regarding these cases. The arrival of a new brand expands buyers’ options, but a premium product must also be reliable when issues arise. The availability of parts, repair times, and customer service will be just as important as design or equipment to earn the trust of the Spanish market.

Sources | FDM | Abcnyheter | Motor.no | Aktuelt | Bitauto