Hao

"What would you say if I told you some fools I knew were running a little racing competition? And as luck would have it, they got this beautiful silver medal with your name on it."

- Hao to Franklin Clinton.

"Hey, have we met? I don't know, everyone looks familiar to me, especially if I clocked 'em in my rearview."

- Hao to the GTA Online Protagonist.

Hao is a character in the Grand Theft Auto series, appearing as a stranger/freak in Grand Theft Auto V and a main character in Grand Theft Auto Online.

Background
Hao is a resident of Los Santos, who is involved with races throughout the city. He is familiar with both Lamar Davis and Franklin Clinton, and appears to be associated with The Families.

Events of Grand Theft Auto Online in 2013
In Grand Theft Auto Online, he is seen working as the mechanic inside the Los Santos Customs shop near Los Santos International Airport.

Events of Grand Theft Auto V
In Grand Theft Auto V, Hao is met as a random encounter in Strawberry and challenges Franklin to a street race against him and his friends. Following the race, the player can join four more street races around the city. He also has a brief appearance during the mission Father/Son, when Franklin takes Amanda De Santa's car to Los Santos Customs. Here, Hao fixes Amanda's car.

Los Santos Tuners
Hao appears in the LS Car Meet opening cutscene of the GTA Online: Los Santos Tuners update. He is having a conversation with Mimi, boasting about his "silver medal" conversation with Franklin, where Mimi claims Hao actually finished third, when the player approaches and interrupts. Hao provides the initial in-depth introduction to the Car Meet. He also sends the player a message when they unlock the Pursuit Race Series races at Car Meet Reputation level 5.

He can often be found attending the meets looking at the cars, when his updated orange Penumbra will be found parked in one of the spots.

Expanded and Enhanced
In 2022, Hao establishes his own modifications shop within the LS Car Meet building, Hao's Special Works. He contacts the GTA Online Protagonist and asks them to help him promote his new mod shop. He first tells them to go to the garage in Downtown Vinewood, collect the Turismo Classic which he upgraded, and beat his time of 08:10 in a time trial race from Vinewood Hills to Cypress Flats. In return, Hao will offer a free HSW Upgrade on his mod shop.

Appearance
He wears a black sando shirt with a crucifix pendant and has tattoos on his left arm. As of 2021, he wears a white sando shirt with the same pendant, and has tattoos on both arms.

Grand Theft Auto V

 * Father/Son
 * Shift Work (Boss)
 * 4 subsequent Street Races (Boss - by text message only)
 * Gauntlet (Only if the Subtle approach in Planning the Big Score is chosen)

Los Santos Tuners

 * LS Car Meet introduction cutscene.

Expanded and Enhanced

 * Hao's Special Works Introduction Time Trial (Voice/Boss)
 * HSW Time Trials (Boss/Unseen)

Trivia

 * If Franklin purchases the Los Santos Customs garage on Route 68, south of Sandy Shores in Harmony, Hao will send Franklin an email shortly afterwards. In the email, Hao talks about Franklin buying the shop, and asks Franklin not to make Hao call him "boss", despite working in a different garage.
 * Hao expresses a dislike for Lamar Davis, as in his email he refers to Lamar as a "shit-talker".
 * Hao's dialogue in Father/Son will vary depending on Franklin's performance in the street races. If Franklin won the last race he participated in, Hao will vow to win the next one. If Franklin lost, Hao will taunt Franklin about his loss. If Franklin hasn't taken part in one yet, Hao will encourage Franklin to do so.
 * Hao seems to be based on Big Lou from Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2005).
 * Hao's personal vehicle is also the counterpart of Big Lou's Mitsubishi Eclipse GT.
 * Hao's appearance in GTA Online: Los Santos Tuners is another similarity. Both of them wear a white sando shirt with a crucifix pendant.

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