China brands go upmarket as Japan mounts EV charge at Singapore Motorshow
Models from Chinese carmakers priced from S$500,000 debut; Toyota and Honda officially introduce electric vehicles
[SINGAPORE] China’s carmakers are aiming for a bigger share of Singapore’s luxury car market as major Japanese brands officially begin introducing electric vehicles (EVs).
At least 12 luxury or premium models from Chinese brands made their debut at the Singapore Motorshow 2026 on Thursday (Jan 8).
Most of these cars will go on sale in the Republic this year – some with price tags of S$500,000 or potentially more.
At last year’s event, only a handful of luxury models from China were on the stands and then with a price ceiling of around S$350,000.
Liu Jifang, assistant general manager for China FAW Group Import and Export, told The Business Times that Singapore is a key luxury car market for Chinese luxury brand Hongqi, which debuted at the show.
“It has a well-educated and affluent population which can appreciate our products,” he said. “It is the first right-hand drive market for Hongqi and success here will pave the way for other markets including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand.”
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Hongqi, owned by Chinese carmaker FAW Group, makes luxury and ultra-luxury cars; it has been dubbed China’s answer to Rolls-Royce.
On display at the show was the Hongqi Guoli, a 7.2 million yuan (S$1.3 million) luxury limousine, which is also the most expensive China-made car in production.
High-class wheels
While the Guoli will not be sold in Singapore, the E-HS9, which Hongqi also launched at the show, will.
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The fully electric large sport utility vehicle (SUV) will cost around S$500,000 and compete with models from Mercedes-Benz and BMW. The car will go on sale soon, with first deliveries beginning in April.
Geely-owned luxury brand Zeekr showed the 9X, a spacious large multipurpose vehicle (MPV). It is likely to be one of the most expensive cars from the brand when it goes on sale in Singapore later this year, with an estimated price starting at S$500,000.
It already has potential competition in the form of the Voyah Dream, another large, luxurious MPV. Voyah is the luxury brand of state-owned Chinese carmaker Dongfeng.
Dongfeng distributor Volt Auto is also preparing to sell the car in Singapore this year. Industry estimates put its cost at around S$400,000.
Market leader BYD is also preparing to launch more luxury models, having debuted its luxury sub-brand Denza with one model at last year’s show.
Denza’s line-up is set to expand considerably in 2026. The Denza B5, on display at the show, is a luxury SUV positioned to compete with the Land Rover Defender. It will go on sale in Singapore this year and cost around S$350,000.
BYD Singapore managing director James Ng told BT that Denza will launch two or three more cars in Singapore this year.
“If you look at the Singapore market, two of the top three brands are luxury brands,” he said. “BYD’s reception has been very strong in the mainstream market, so now we have the confidence to push into the luxury segment… we want to be strong in the luxury segment too.”
As at October 2025, BYD was the top-selling car brand in Singapore, with 7,473 registrations, followed by Toyota, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Honda.
BYD also displayed the U8, a large luxury SUV from its off-road luxury brand Yangwang – which could take the crown of the most expensive China car in Singapore.
Currently undergoing approval for sale in Singapore, the U8 is one of the BYD group’s most expensive models, with prices starting at 1.1 million yuan in China. Industry estimates indicate it could cost S$600,000 to S$700,000 if launched here.
Rising electric sun
But China’s EV brands may have more competition from Japanese brands in the coming year as Toyota, Honda and other brands ramp up their EV roll-out.
Before this, Japanese brands largely ignored the EV market. Only Mazda and Nissan offered EVs for sale in Singapore, and these did not sell in major numbers.
At the Singapore Motorshow, Toyota debuted its first official EV for market launch in Singapore, the BZ4X midsized SUV. Toyota distributor Borneo Motors did not offer an indicative price, but said the car would begin sales in the first quarter of the year.
It will be followed by other EVs: the Toyota Urban Cruiser, a mainstream small SUV, and the Lexus ES 350e, a large luxury sedan.
Ng Khee Siong, managing director of Borneo Motors Singapore, said the move is part of Toyota’s “multi-pathway” approach to electrification, and that the brand will continue to expand its offerings, including EVs.
“(Customers’) needs are not one-size-fits-all, and neither is the path to electrification,” he said. “That is why we will continue to thoughtfully strengthen our product portfolio across both electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles.”
Honda introduced the Super-One, a compact electric hatchback, with a price of S$168,999 with a Certificate of Entitlement (COE).
Kohei Akamine, Honda Motor’s assistant large project leader for the Super-One, said that while the car is a niche model aimed at those who want a compact, sporty hatchback, it is the first of more EVs to come.
“We will introduce more EVs to Singapore and Asia,” he said. “While we cannot say more about the specifics, we will introduce a few models over the next few years.”
Mazda pulled the covers off the 6e, a fully electric sedan developed with Chinese carmaker Changan. Brand representatives did not provide an estimated price, but said the car will launch here in the third quarter.
Like Toyota and Honda, it is a prelude of more EVs to come with the Mazda CX-6e – a fully electric SUV – that will follow the 6e.
Chong Kah Wei, managing director of Mazda Singapore for Eurokars group, said the goal is to “convert buyers to EVs for whom existing products on the market don’t have enough appeal, for whatever reason”.
“With more models on the way, we will also ensure consumers have a choice of models that suit their needs.”
The Singapore Motorshow runs from Thursday to Sunday at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre.
All car prices quoted for Singapore include a COE.
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