- Denza Z9 GT delivers 962 hp from three motors and a large battery pack.
- The brand aims at premium buyers and tech-savvy youth with its EV lineup.
- European sales begin late this year, with vehicles initially exported from China.
As Chinese automakers continue to test Europe’s appetite for newcomers, BYD is making a move to stake its claim in the premium segment. The company has officially launched its Denza brand in Europe, aiming to grow its footprint in the region and challenge established luxury manufacturers. The first model to hit European streets will be the Z9 GT, with sales expected to begin by the end of the year.
Denza was originally formed as a joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz back in 2011. But despite the star power behind it, the brand struggled to gain traction, selling just 23,000 vehicles in its first decade. Mercedes-Benz began scaling back its involvement in 2022, reducing its stake to just 10 percent before fully exiting the partnership last year. Denza is now entirely under BYD’s control.
Read: BYD’s Denza Z9 GT Rivals Porsche’s Panamera And Taycan For A Fraction Of The Price
The Chinese maker launched the Denza brand at a special event in Milan, Italy, earlier this week. According to BYD’s special advisor for Europe, Alfredo Altavilla, Denza will target traditional premium car buyers and younger customers with a keen focus on technology.
Back in China, BYD operates Denza alongside two other premium sub-brands, Fang Cheng Bao and Yangwang. According to ArenaEV, BYD plans to consolidate Fang Cheng Bao into the Denza lineup for Europe, starting with the Fang Cheng Bao Leopard 5, which will be rebadged as a Denza. It remains unclear whether Yangwang models will also be brought under the Denza umbrella for the European market.
Denza has not announced prices for its European lineup. However, while speaking with Reuters, Altavilla said the Z9 GT will be followed up by the luxurious D9 van at the end of the year. Both models will be built in and exported from China, even though the automaker plans to start building cars at its new plant in Hungary from October.
On paper, the Z9 GT is aimed at the likes of Porsche’s Taycan Sport Turismo, though it beats the German EV on size. It’s over 7.8 inches (200 mm) longer and rides on a wheelbase that’s 8.8 inches (225 mm) longer. Power comes from three electric motors producing a combined 952 horsepower, fed by a 100.1 kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery pack. In China, the company also offers a PHEV version that combines a 2.0-liter turbo engine and three electric motors for 858 hp.
The Z9 GT’s performance numbers may place it in the same conversation as Porsche’s offerings, but its pricing in China suggests a very different customer base. There, Denza’s model is priced between 334,800 and 414,800 yuan (roughly $45,800 to $56,800), while Porsche’s comparable models, like the Panamera Sport Turismo and Taycan Cross Turismo, start around 1,008,000 yuan ($138,000) and stretch well beyond 1,500,000 yuan ($205,000), depending on trim and powertrain.
