The official car designated for Xi Jinping was brought to Delhi covered by a large black security cover. Video footage showed the vehicle being driven on Delhi roads while still covered. The arrangement was not a sudden measure. Official vehicles used by heads of state on foreign visits are transported separately and kept covered during transit as part of security and logistical arrangements.
The cover may help protect the vehicle from dust, weather and possible damage during transportation. Keeping highly secured government vehicles away from unnecessary public view while they are being transported can also form part of such arrangements. The sight of the car under a black cover, therefore, cannot by itself be considered an indication of any extraordinary security threat.
Interestingly, when Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi on September 12, his official car was not covered. The vehicle was seen in its normal condition during his reception in India and as his convoy moved through the city. This indicates that the black cover was used while the car was being transported from one location to another, rather than while it was being used by the Chinese president.
Such an arrangement is not limited to India. Similar footage had also emerged during Xi Jinping’s visit to Malaysia, showing his official car being transported inside a security cover.
The official limousine used for Xi Jinping is the Hongqi N701, manufactured by FAW’s Hongqi brand in China. Hongqi has a long association with China’s political leadership. In 1958, First Automotive Works developed it as an official vehicle for the leadership of the Communist Party of China. Over time, the brand became associated with China’s top political leadership and major state events.
The N701 is regarded as a highly secure government vehicle specially prepared for presidential-level use. During overseas visits, China also prefers to use a car manufactured by a domestic company for its top leader.
Xi Jinping’s security arrangements in India have also been kept extremely tight. According to security agency sources, Xi Jinping will stay on the fifth floor of the Taj Hotel in New Delhi. Sources said around 400 people have accompanied Xi Jinping from China and are currently in India. They include members of his delegation and Chinese officials associated with the visit.
Xi Jinping’s visit is his first trip to India in nearly seven years. He arrived in New Delhi to attend the 18th BRICS Summit. The summit, being held on September 12 and 13, is set to discuss several major issues concerning the world’s emerging economies.
The visit is also significant for India-China relations. The two countries remained under prolonged strain after the 2020 Galwan clash, and both sides are now attempting to stabilise their relationship. Against that backdrop, even the logistics surrounding the Chinese president’s official vehicle have drawn close attention during his India visit.
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