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Modi Chauffeured in China’s Hongqi L5 at SCO Summit in Tianjin

Beijing signaled protocol respect by assigning its flagship state limousine, a potent symbol of Chinese statecraft.

Overview

  • Chinese authorities provided the Hongqi L5 for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Tianjin for the SCO Summit.
  • The L5 is widely known as President Xi Jinping’s official car and is typically reserved for top Chinese leaders and select visiting dignitaries.
  • The limousine measures about 5.5 metres and weighs over three tonnes, with engine options including a 4.0-litre twin‑turbo V8 or a 6.0‑litre V12.
  • Security features include heavy armour plating, bulletproof glass, run‑flat tyres, and integrated communication systems, alongside a luxury cabin with traditional design motifs.
  • Priced around five million yuan (approximately ₹7 crore) and produced in limited numbers, the L5 is not available to the general public; Russia’s Vladimir Putin used his Aurus with Chinese diplomatic plates in Tianjin.