Prime Minister Narendra Modi was chauffeured in China’s Hongqi L5 during his two-day visit to Tianjin for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. The L5 is the model frequently used by President Xi Jinping and is reserved for senior Chinese leaders and visiting heads of state. The sight of Modi in that car was a clear diplomatic gesture and drew attention across the summit.
Modi landed in Tianjin on 31 August for his first trip to China in over seven years. He was driven around parts of the summit in the Hongqi L5, the same limousine Xi used on his 2019 visit to Mahabalipuram. Mr Modi later posted on X, “Always a delight to meet President Putin!” and added, “After the proceedings at the SCO Summit venue, President Putin and I travelled together to the venue of our bilateral meeting. Conversations with him are always insightful.” Those lines were shared alongside photographs that emphasised the personal tone of the encounters.
Hongqi L5: Why the car matters
The Hongqi L5 is not merely transport. It is a symbol of state craft and industrial pride. Offering it to a visiting prime minister signals respect and carries diplomatic weight. The gesture came as Xi and Modi held bilateral talks in which Xi said it was the need of the hour for the "Dragon and Elephant to come together" and to "be friends." In his televised opening remarks Mr Modi said, “Our cooperation is linked to the interests of 2.8 billion people of our two countries. This will also pave the way for the welfare of all humanity,” and he added, “We are committed to advancing our relations based on mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity.”
The Hongqi L5 up close
The L5 is a large armoured limousine built by state-owned First Automobile Works under the Hongqi brand. It runs a 6.0-litre V12 engine that produces over 400 horsepower. It does 0 to 100 km/h in about 8.5 seconds and has a top speed near 210 km/h. The car measures more than 5.5 metres and weighs over three tonnes. The price for the L5 is roughly 5 million yuan, about Rs 7 crore.
Comfort and systems
The interior is designed for long, private journeys. Rear passengers get wide leather seats, entertainment screens, wood trim and cultural touches such as jade inlays. The rear seats offer massage, heating and ventilation. The car also comes with all-wheel drive, adaptive cruise control, parking sensors and 360-degree cameras. It combines ceremony with practical protection.
A short history of Hongqi
Hongqi, which means Red Flag in Mandarin, was launched in 1958 by FAW. The first model was the CA72. The CA770 followed in the 1960s and about 1,600 were built through 1980, including stretched and armoured versions for leaders and visiting dignitaries. Production slowed in the 1980s and the marque went through rebadging phases in the 1990s and 2000s. It was relaunched in 2018 with a determined push for a Made in China luxury identity.
Recent revival and sales
The relaunch shifted Hongqi from ceremonial marque to mainstream premium brand. Sales rose from about 33,000 in 2018 to roughly 300,000 in 2021. By 2024 the brand reported sales crossing 411,000 and added product lines including ultra-luxury models and electric vehicles. The maker has outlined plans to expand overseas with outlets in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Xi, policy and symbolism
Xi Jinping has made Hongqi part of a wider argument for domestic products. In a 2012 speech to party cadres he said, “It doesn’t look right to sit in a foreign car. Lots of foreign leaders use limousines of their own country, unless there isn’t one.” He has since showcased Chinese-made limousines at public events and on state trips. The L5 became his signature vehicle and a visible emblem of that policy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Tianjin and used his Aurus presidential car while in the port city; reports said it carried Chinese diplomatic licence plates during the visit. Putin, addressing the SCO, said, “The SCO is steadily increasing its influence in addressing international issues. National currencies are being used more widely in mutual settlements for trade among SCO countries. The pace of development of cooperation within the SCO is impressive.”
The wider geopolitical backdrop
The summit unfolded against rising tensions in other theatres. The United States has imposed steep tariffs on Indian imports and criticised New Delhi’s energy ties with Moscow. The White House trade adviser has accused New Delhi of acting as a "laundromat for the Kremlin".
US President Donald Trump has also spoken publicly about India’s role in global oil markets and threatened broader measures; he said in an interview with Fox News, “Well, they lost an “oil client” - India. “Well, they lost an oil client so to speak, which is India, which was doing about 40% of the oil, China as you know is doing a lot...and If I did secondary sanctions, it would be devastating from their standpoint…," That context helps explain why leaders at Tianjin emphasised cooperation on trade, connectivity and stability.
At the SCO Xi called for unity around historical perspective and against confrontation. He said, “We must promote a correct historical perspective on World War II, and oppose the Cold War mentality, block confrontation and bullying practices,” and urged the grouping to uphold fairness and justice. Those remarks framed the meeting as part of a larger push for multipolarity in global governance.
A state limousine is ceremonial, but it is also shorthand for protocol and intent. For Mr Modi to ride in the Hongqi L5 was a courtesy. It smoothed optics, highlighted a willingness to speak directly, and underlined a cautious re-engagement between New Delhi and Beijing even as strategic differences remain. The car was part of the message and not its entirety.
The CA72 and CA770 models established Hongqi as an elite marque. Later decades saw rebadging such as variants of the Audi 100 and Lincoln Town Car and models based on the Toyota Crown. By the mid-2010s Hongqi returned to visibility with state models and luxury variants. The modern L5 combines traditional details and high security features intended for heads of state and very wealthy buyers.
Modi landed in Tianjin on 31 August for his first trip to China in over seven years. He was driven around parts of the summit in the Hongqi L5, the same limousine Xi used on his 2019 visit to Mahabalipuram. Mr Modi later posted on X, “Always a delight to meet President Putin!” and added, “After the proceedings at the SCO Summit venue, President Putin and I travelled together to the venue of our bilateral meeting. Conversations with him are always insightful.” Those lines were shared alongside photographs that emphasised the personal tone of the encounters.
Hongqi L5: Why the car matters
The Hongqi L5 is not merely transport. It is a symbol of state craft and industrial pride. Offering it to a visiting prime minister signals respect and carries diplomatic weight. The gesture came as Xi and Modi held bilateral talks in which Xi said it was the need of the hour for the "Dragon and Elephant to come together" and to "be friends." In his televised opening remarks Mr Modi said, “Our cooperation is linked to the interests of 2.8 billion people of our two countries. This will also pave the way for the welfare of all humanity,” and he added, “We are committed to advancing our relations based on mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity.”
The Hongqi L5 up close
The L5 is a large armoured limousine built by state-owned First Automobile Works under the Hongqi brand. It runs a 6.0-litre V12 engine that produces over 400 horsepower. It does 0 to 100 km/h in about 8.5 seconds and has a top speed near 210 km/h. The car measures more than 5.5 metres and weighs over three tonnes. The price for the L5 is roughly 5 million yuan, about Rs 7 crore.
Comfort and systems
The interior is designed for long, private journeys. Rear passengers get wide leather seats, entertainment screens, wood trim and cultural touches such as jade inlays. The rear seats offer massage, heating and ventilation. The car also comes with all-wheel drive, adaptive cruise control, parking sensors and 360-degree cameras. It combines ceremony with practical protection.
A short history of Hongqi
Hongqi, which means Red Flag in Mandarin, was launched in 1958 by FAW. The first model was the CA72. The CA770 followed in the 1960s and about 1,600 were built through 1980, including stretched and armoured versions for leaders and visiting dignitaries. Production slowed in the 1980s and the marque went through rebadging phases in the 1990s and 2000s. It was relaunched in 2018 with a determined push for a Made in China luxury identity.
Recent revival and sales
The relaunch shifted Hongqi from ceremonial marque to mainstream premium brand. Sales rose from about 33,000 in 2018 to roughly 300,000 in 2021. By 2024 the brand reported sales crossing 411,000 and added product lines including ultra-luxury models and electric vehicles. The maker has outlined plans to expand overseas with outlets in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Xi, policy and symbolism
Xi Jinping has made Hongqi part of a wider argument for domestic products. In a 2012 speech to party cadres he said, “It doesn’t look right to sit in a foreign car. Lots of foreign leaders use limousines of their own country, unless there isn’t one.” He has since showcased Chinese-made limousines at public events and on state trips. The L5 became his signature vehicle and a visible emblem of that policy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Tianjin and used his Aurus presidential car while in the port city; reports said it carried Chinese diplomatic licence plates during the visit. Putin, addressing the SCO, said, “The SCO is steadily increasing its influence in addressing international issues. National currencies are being used more widely in mutual settlements for trade among SCO countries. The pace of development of cooperation within the SCO is impressive.”
The wider geopolitical backdrop
The summit unfolded against rising tensions in other theatres. The United States has imposed steep tariffs on Indian imports and criticised New Delhi’s energy ties with Moscow. The White House trade adviser has accused New Delhi of acting as a "laundromat for the Kremlin".
US President Donald Trump has also spoken publicly about India’s role in global oil markets and threatened broader measures; he said in an interview with Fox News, “Well, they lost an “oil client” - India. “Well, they lost an oil client so to speak, which is India, which was doing about 40% of the oil, China as you know is doing a lot...and If I did secondary sanctions, it would be devastating from their standpoint…," That context helps explain why leaders at Tianjin emphasised cooperation on trade, connectivity and stability.
At the SCO Xi called for unity around historical perspective and against confrontation. He said, “We must promote a correct historical perspective on World War II, and oppose the Cold War mentality, block confrontation and bullying practices,” and urged the grouping to uphold fairness and justice. Those remarks framed the meeting as part of a larger push for multipolarity in global governance.
A state limousine is ceremonial, but it is also shorthand for protocol and intent. For Mr Modi to ride in the Hongqi L5 was a courtesy. It smoothed optics, highlighted a willingness to speak directly, and underlined a cautious re-engagement between New Delhi and Beijing even as strategic differences remain. The car was part of the message and not its entirety.
The CA72 and CA770 models established Hongqi as an elite marque. Later decades saw rebadging such as variants of the Audi 100 and Lincoln Town Car and models based on the Toyota Crown. By the mid-2010s Hongqi returned to visibility with state models and luxury variants. The modern L5 combines traditional details and high security features intended for heads of state and very wealthy buyers.
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