Vehicles travel a long road to make their marque

On Aug 1, 1958

The first Hongqi model, a CA72, was introduced by FAW Group, a State-owned automaker with headquarters in Jilin province.

Equipped with a 200 horsepower engine and the classic Hongqi fanlike grille, the CA72 was one of the first cars made in China by a domestic manufacturer.

One year later two more Hongqi CA72 sedans were manufactured and sent to Beijing to join the country's 10th National Day celebrations.

In 1964

The Hongqi brand was designated as the official vehicle for visiting heads of state.

The car did not change much until 1965 when the CA770 was introduced and later other models, including a stretched armored limousine with three rows of seating.

In 1969

By beating the ZIS-115, a Russian-built car, in a driving contest, Hongqi cars were designated as the official vehicles for the National Day parade, a tradition that has remained.

In 1981

Production of Hongqi luxury cars was ordered to be halted, due to high oil consumption.

On March 22, 1993

FAW Group resumed production, making its first Hongqi sedan in a decade. The car was bought by a private businessman in Zhejiang province.

In 1994

After the debut of the Hongqi CA7220, the brand once manufactured in small numbers and designed for the use of top officials, started mass production.

In 2013

The H7, the newest member of the Hongqi family, came off the production line.

- Ou Hailin

(China Daily USA 06/18/2013 page6)