China FAW Group Co., the carmaker whose luxury Hongqi model was used to transport Community Party Chairman Mao Zedong, is betting on a new audience in Japan, opening its first showroom in the country as it seeks to crack a market that’s fiercely loyal to domestic brands.

A Hongqi — which means "red flag" — dealership opened in Osaka last month and 22 vehicles have been sold so far, although they went to Chinese living in Japan, Li Wang, an executive at the dealership, said Friday. FAW’s most popular model, the H9, costs as much as ¥15 million ($130,000).

"Hongqi is special, it’s more than just a car” especially for many Chinese people, Li said. Japan has almost 787,000 Chinese residents, making up more than a quarter of all immigrants. Osaka is particularly known for its diverse community.