BYD brand Denza ready to launch in UK

BYD will officially unveil its more upmarket subsidiary Denza in Milan in April, and begin distributing the brand’s cars in Europe, including the UK, by the end of 2025.

The launch of its Denza brand into Europe has long been trailed by the Chinese manufacturer, which is now the largest electric vehicle producer in the world having overtaken US brand Tesla.

Denza was created in 2010 as a joint programme between BYD and Mercedes-Benz, with the intention of producing upmarket plug-in vehicles – its first vehicle went on sale in China in 2014. In 2021 BYD started producing new models for the brand while Mercedes-Benz reduced its stake, finally transferring its last shares to BYD in September 2024.

Speaking to Business Motoring at the launch of the BYD Sealion 7 performance SUV, Stella Li, executive vice president of BYD and the company’s most senior spokesperson globally, refuted a suggestion that Mercedes-Benz would now form a prime competitor to Denza. “We will target more premium cars than Mercedes-Benz,” she said, adding that Denza models would offer both performance and luxury.

Li added that Denza vehicles will have three electric motors and cutting edge technology. At least seven Denza models are planned, though Li gave no details as to what these will be.

A Denza D9 luxury electric MPV (pictured above), was present at the launch event amongst the new BYD Sealion models. The D9 was launched in China in 2022 and is already sold in right-hand-drive form in Hong Kong.

Other Denza models already on sale include the N7 mid-sized SUV, a larger sister called the N9, and the Z9 electric car which is also available with a shooting-brake body dubbed the Z9 GT. Which of these will be sold in the UK is yet to be announced though industry sources have predicted that the Z9 GT could lead Denza’s launch into Britain.