Hengchi 5: The Evolution of Evergrande’s First and Only Production Electric SUV
The Hengchi 5 was the first—and ultimately only—mass-produced vehicle from Hengchi, the electric vehicle brand created by China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group, the automotive subsidiary of the China Evergrande Group. Introduced during the rapid expansion of China’s electric vehicle market, the Hengchi 5 was intended to launch a family of nine electric models and establish Evergrande as a major global automaker. Instead, the vehicle became best known as a symbol of the ambitious plans—and financial struggles—of one of China’s largest real estate developers.
Although the Hengchi 5 entered production and reached customers, its commercial life was short. Financial problems affecting Evergrande severely limited production, and the SUV remains the only Hengchi model to reach series manufacturing.
Origins of the Hengchi 5
Evergrande entered the automotive industry in 2019 after investing heavily in electric vehicle development. The company established the Hengchi brand in 2020 and unveiled an ambitious lineup consisting of nine concept vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, crossovers, and an MPV. The Hengchi 5, originally shown as a concept in 2020, was selected as the first production model because of the growing demand for midsize electric SUVs in China.
The vehicle was designed to compete with popular Chinese electric crossovers by combining modern styling, advanced driver-assistance technology, and competitive driving range at an affordable price.
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Development and Production Timeline
The Hengchi 5 progressed from concept to production over several years:
- 2020: Concept unveiled as part of the original Hengchi lineup.
- 2021: Engineering validation and regulatory approval continued while Evergrande prepared for production.
- January 2022: The first production vehicle rolled off the assembly line at the Tianjin manufacturing plant ahead of schedule.
- July 2022: Pre-sales officially began.
- September 2022: Mass production commenced.
- October 2022: Customer deliveries began.
- April 2023: Production was temporarily suspended because of funding shortages.
- May 2023: Production resumed on a limited basis.
- Late 2023: Production effectively concluded.
- 2024: Evergrande New Energy Vehicle entered bankruptcy proceedings, ending any realistic prospect of further production.
Overall, the Hengchi 5 was produced from 2022 through 2023.
Models and Trim Levels
Unlike most manufacturers that offer multiple trim levels, Hengchi kept the lineup extremely simple.
2022 Model Year
The only production version offered was:
- Hengchi 5 Super Deluxe
This single trim included nearly every available feature as standard equipment. Rather than creating entry-level and premium versions, Evergrande chose to market one highly equipped model at a competitive price.
2023 Model Year
The Super Deluxe remained the only available trim.
No additional equipment packages, performance variants, or lower-priced versions were introduced before production ended. Although Evergrande announced plans for future models—including the Hengchi 6 and Hengchi 7—those vehicles never entered production.
Exterior Design
The Hengchi 5 featured a contemporary crossover design emphasizing clean surfaces and aerodynamic styling.
Notable exterior features included:
- Full-width LED lighting elements
- Slim LED headlights
- Flush door handles
- Large panoramic roof
- Black lower body cladding
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Modern crossover proportions
The vehicle measured approximately:
- Length: 186.0 inches
- Width: 75.8 inches
- Height: 66.0 inches
- Wheelbase: 109.4 inches
These dimensions placed it squarely within the midsize crossover SUV segment.
Powertrain and Performance
Throughout its production run, the Hengchi 5 used a single electric powertrain.
Specifications included:
- Front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous electric motor
- 201 horsepower
- 254 lb-ft of torque
- Front-wheel drive
- 72.8-kWh CATL lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery
- CLTC-rated driving range of 374 miles
- Top speed of 112 mph
Acceleration from 0 to 62 mph was quoted at approximately 7.8 seconds, providing respectable performance for a family-oriented electric SUV. Because the vehicle was never certified for sale in the United States, EPA driving range figures were never published.
Technology
Evergrande equipped the Hengchi 5 with an impressive level of technology considering its price point.
Standard features included:
- Large digital instrument display
- Large central infotainment touchscreen
- Over-the-air software updates
- Voice recognition
- Smartphone connectivity
- Panoramic sunroof
- Heated front seats
- Wireless phone charging
The SUV also introduced H-Pilot, Hengchi’s advanced driver-assistance system.
H-Pilot offered:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane-keeping assistance
- Automatic emergency braking
- Automatic parking assistance
- Traffic sign recognition
- Driver monitoring
The system used a Mobileye EyeQ4 processor to support its safety and convenience features.
Manufacturing
Production took place exclusively at Evergrande’s modern manufacturing facility in Tianjin, China.
The factory was intended to become one of several large EV production plants supporting Evergrande’s long-term goal of producing millions of electric vehicles annually. However, actual production volumes fell far short of those ambitions because of the company’s worsening financial condition.
According to Evergrande’s 2023 annual report:
- Approximately 1,700 Hengchi 5s had been produced by the end of 2023.
- Approximately 1,389 vehicles had been delivered to customers.
Consumer Reception
When the Hengchi 5 was introduced, public interest was surprisingly strong.
Evergrande announced that the SUV received more than 37,000 pre-orders within approximately two weeks of opening reservations in July 2022. While these reservations demonstrated significant consumer curiosity, many were refundable deposits rather than finalized purchases.
Automotive reviewers generally praised:
- Attractive styling
- Competitive pricing
- Long driving range
- Well-equipped interior
- Modern technology
However, nearly every review also expressed concern regarding Evergrande’s severe financial instability and the uncertainty surrounding warranty support and long-term ownership. Those concerns ultimately proved justified as production interruptions and corporate restructuring affected the brand.
Because the Hengchi 5 was never officially exported to North America:
- U.S. sales: None
- Global sales: Approximately 1,389 customer deliveries through the end of 2023, based on Evergrande’s published figures.
Challenges
The Hengchi 5’s greatest obstacle was never the vehicle itself—it was the financial collapse of its parent company.
Beginning in 2021, the China Evergrande Group experienced one of the largest debt crises in modern corporate history. As funding disappeared, Evergrande New Energy Vehicle struggled to pay suppliers, continue research and development, and maintain production.
Production of the Hengchi 5 was temporarily suspended in April 2023 because of insufficient funding before resuming on a limited basis the following month. Development of the planned Hengchi 6 and Hengchi 7 slowed dramatically, and by 2024 the company entered bankruptcy proceedings.
Legacy and Future Outlook
The Hengchi 5 remains an unusual chapter in China’s automotive history. Technically, it demonstrated that Evergrande could produce a competitive electric SUV with respectable range, modern technology, and attractive styling. Commercially, however, it never fulfilled the company’s ambitious vision of becoming one of the world’s largest EV manufacturers.
As of 2026, there are no announced plans to restart production of the Hengchi 5 or revive the Hengchi brand. The bankruptcy of Evergrande’s automotive operations has effectively ended the vehicle’s production life, and none of the additional Hengchi models originally announced have reached the market.
Although its production run was brief, the Hengchi 5 serves as a reminder that engineering capability alone is not enough to ensure success in the automotive industry. The SUV remains the sole production vehicle from a brand that once promised to revolutionize China’s electric vehicle market, making it an important—if short-lived—milestone in the country’s EV history.
