Received at
the highest levels
of state.
Before a single showroom opens, Hongqi has already arrived in Malaysia twice — gifted to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and driven by the President of China through the streets of Kuala Lumpur.
A gift to His Majesty.
On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the People's Republic of China, the Chinese government gifted His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim — the Yang di-Pertuan Agong — the first unit of the second-generation Hongqi L5. The gift was notable for several reasons.
First, it was the first time any foreign head of state had taken delivery of the second-generation L5 — a vehicle that had, to that point, been reserved for Chinese state use. Second, the L5 is not a production vehicle in the conventional sense: it is effectively commissioned, with each unit hand-assembled and specified for its recipient. Third, and most significantly, the gift occurred before Hongqi had any commercial presence in Malaysia. The arrival of the brand in the Malaysian luxury market was preceded by its reception at the royal household.
The state visit.
During President Xi Jinping's state visit to Malaysia in 2024, the Hongqi N701 — the long-wheelbase limousine used for official Chinese head-of-state travel — was flown into Kuala Lumpur to serve as the presidential vehicle for the duration of the visit. The N701 was observed in the presidential motorcade throughout the visit, including at the formal ASEAN leaders' summit meetings.
For the public, it was the first extended exposure to the marque on Malaysian roads. For the diplomatic community, it was a signal of the seriousness with which China regards the bilateral relationship. For Hongqi, it was an introduction to Malaysia more powerful than any commercial campaign could have achieved.
Quill Group becomes the distributor.
On the twenty-second of April 2026, Quill Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding with FAW Group to serve as the official importer and CKD distributor of Hongqi in Malaysia. The Memorandum was signed in Beijing and announced the following day through Malaysian and international media.
Under the terms of the agreement, Quill Group will handle importation, appoint authorised dealerships nationwide, and oversee after-sales service and parts availability. Local assembly — CKD — is in planning, with a contract assembly partner expected to be announced in due course. The official Malaysian launch is scheduled for mid-2026.
Datuk Dr Jennifer Low, Group Managing Director of Quill Group, described the appointment as recognition of Malaysia's standing as one of Hongqi's premier right-hand-drive markets globally, alongside Singapore, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
From a royal gift
to a retail showroom.
In less than two years.