Hongqi EHS4 electric SUV clears Australian certification ahead of 2027 launch

Hongqi's most affordable model, the EHS4 small electric SUV, has passed Australian Design Rule certification ahead of the brand's local launch, with the model set to follow the flagship E-HS9 into showrooms. The E-HS9 is due to begin customer deliveries in January 2026, and the EHS4 and larger EHS5 are expected within six months of that launch.

The EHS4 is closely related to the Leapmotor B10, sharing its platform, powertrain and much of its body, but Hongqi has not yet announced Australian pricing for the model.

What the certification documents show

ADR documents list the EHS4 at 4540mm long, 1890mm wide and 1655mm tall on a 2740mm wheelbase. That makes it 25mm longer and 5mm wider than the Leapmotor B10 it is based on, with a 5mm longer wheelbase.

Like the B10, it uses four-wheel independent suspension with MacPherson struts at the front and a five-link rear setup. The electric powertrain appears identical, with a single 160kW motor, and even the brake discs are the same size. Both models ride on 18-inch alloy wheels.

Battery, charging and performance details from overseas

The ADR documents do not list torque or battery capacity, but Hongqi has released those figures in other global markets. The EHS4 produces 240Nm of torque and uses a 67.1kWh lithium iron phosphate battery with a 400V electrical system supporting a maximum DC fast-charge rate of 168kW.

Those specifications match the Australian-market B10 rather than the Chinese-market version, which has been updated with an 800V electrical system. That distinction matters for buyers comparing the two: the Australian EHS4 will charge at the same rate as the Australian B10, not the faster-charging Chinese model.

Styling and cabin changes over the B10

Hongqi has given the B10 new front-end styling and tweaked rear-end styling, along with a restyled dashboard, door panels and a new steering wheel. The overall body is unchanged, and the cabin keeps the B10's 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster and 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

The EHS4 is already on sale in Nepal, priced from 59.99 lakh, or around A$57,800. That is slightly more than the base price of the MG S5 EV in Nepal at 55.99 lakh, or around A$54,000. For reference, the MG S5 EV is priced from $41,990 drive-away in Australia. Those Nepali figures are a guide only: Hongqi has not confirmed Australian pricing for the EHS4, so buyers will have to wait for a local announcement.

Hongqi's Australian plans and the Leapmotor link

Hongqi, the premium Chinese brand owned by FAW, is entering the Australian market in 2027. The E-HS9 received ADR certification late last month ahead of customer deliveries starting in January 2026, and the EHS4 and EHS5 are set to follow within six months of that launch.

The relationship between the two brands runs deeper than a shared platform. FAW and Leapmotor signed a strategic cooperation agreement in March 2025 to jointly develop a new global vehicle, and FAW subsequently agreed to invest 3.74 billion yuan in Leapmotor in December for a five per cent stake. Leapmotor's local boss, Andy Hoang, told CarExpert in October that he welcomes the competition.

For Australian buyers, the EHS4 effectively offers Leapmotor B10 hardware under a premium badge, with the same motor, battery and charging architecture. The question is whether Hongqi's positioning and interior changes justify a price above the B10 when both arrive.

Audi Australia has no plans to source vehicles from China for the Australian market at this stage, even as parent Volkswagen Group signals it wants to send more Chinese-built models to markets including Australia. Audi Australia product chief Matthew Dale said Chinese-market vehicles such as the 'AUDI' E5 Sportback are developed for that market and cannot currently be exported.

Speaking at the launch of the new Audi RS5 in Tasmania, Dale said the brand is open to other production sources but China is not one of them for Australia as of today. Volkswagen brand CEO Thomas Schäfer said at last month's Paris motor show that the group is starting to export to regions with easier access from China than Europe, naming Australia and the Middle East.

Why Audi says Chinese-built models are off the table

Dale drew a line between models engineered for China and those that could travel. The E5 Sportback was developed solely for the domestic Chinese market and cannot be exported, he said, and long-wheelbase versions of the Q5 and A4 built with local partners have followed the same pattern.

He left the door ajar for later. What the future holds cannot be said yet and will be dictated by market movements, Dale said, adding that Audi is open to looking into other source bases but China is not one for Australia as of today.

Audi Australia director Jeff Mannering framed the question as a group-level one rather than an Audi decision. He told CarExpert he presented the board with a chart showing Australia is, in his words, the fourth biggest market for Chinese imports because there are no tariffs, and warned that the shift will reach everywhere in the world.

Mannering pointed to the pace of change locally: about 18 months ago there were technically two or three Chinese brands on sale, he said, and now there are 22, with another six or seven due in the next four or five months. That churn is why he described Australia as a good case study for what can happen quickly, while stressing the sourcing call is not a local one.

What Volkswagen has actually said about Australia

Schäfer's comments to British outlet Autocar put Australia on the group's export map. He said the group is now exporting to the global south and to countries with easier access from China than Europe, such as Australia and the Middle East, and that it is getting ready to bring one or more models in future.

The distinction matters for buyers: a group executive talking about exporting Chinese-built cars is not the same as a brand confirming which cars, when, or at what price. Volkswagen's Australian arm has not been reported as naming specific Chinese-sourced models or launch timing, so the line-up and dates remain unannounced.

That leaves the two positions compatible rather than contradictory. Audi's answer covers Audi, and it is a holding position rather than a permanent one, while the group-level ambition sits with Volkswagen and its other brands.

What it means for Australian buyers

For now, anyone shopping an Audi in Australia should expect the same European-sourced range, with no Chinese-built Audi joining the local line-up in the near term. The E5 Sportback, the most visible example of Audi's China-only approach, is not a car Australian buyers can count on.

The wider signal is that the Volkswagen Group's Chinese production capacity is being aimed at export markets, and Australia's tariff-free, fast-moving market makes it an obvious test case. Which group models land here, and when, has not been announced.