BYD's premium arm Denza is coming to India — What to expect?

Denza, the luxury arm of Chinese carmaker BYD, has officially confirmed its entry into the Indian market through a recent social media announcement. This follows earlier reports that BYD was preparing to bring Denza to India. The brand's first two models are expected to be the Z9 GT shooting brake and the D9 MPV.

Denza's India entry announcement

Denza India's social media post shows the brand's blue-and-silver hourglass-style logo with the words 'Arriving soon'. The caption says Denza will introduce a 'sophisticated, high-performance EV experience' in India. Denza models are expected to sit above BYD's current lineup, particularly above the Rs 80 lakh price point. This will position Denza as a luxury EV brand rather than a premium extension of BYD.

Denza's history and global presence

Denza was founded in 2010 as a joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz Group. Mercedes-Benz fully exited the venture by 2024, transferring complete ownership to BYD. Denza now operates in markets including China, Southeast Asia, Australia, Europe and Latin America. Its lineup includes luxury and performance EVs as well as plug-in hybrids.

Also Read: Mercedes-Benz GLC Electric bookings open ahead of 4 November launch — Details

Denza Z9 GT: India's first four-door shooting brake EV

The Denza Z9 GT is a four-door shooting brake, a body style that currently has no direct rival in India. It gets a 122.5kWh battery pack that powers three electric motors producing a combined 1,156hp, with power sent to all four wheels. BYD claims a 0-100kph time of 2.7 seconds and a top speed of 270kph, putting the Z9 GT in supercar territory despite its practical body style. The WLTP range is rated at 600km, while charging is supported at up to 1,500kW. BYD says the battery can charge from 10 to 97% in just nine minutes.

The Z9 GT also gets rear-wheel steering, which enables features such as a sideways 'crab walk' and a 'Compass Turn 360°' function that can rotate the car on the spot, similar to the Mercedes G-Class Electric's G-Turn. Inside, it gets a triple-screen dashboard layout, two additional screens for external camera feeds, Level 2+ ADAS, full leather upholstery and a 20-speaker Devialet sound system. The front seats are powered and get heating, ventilation and massage functions. The Z9 GT is expected to be priced between Rs 1.2 crore and Rs 1.5 crore in India.

Also Read: Mercedes-Maybach S 580e launched — 585hp, 100km electric range, only 30 units for India

Denza D9: a luxury MPV rival to the Vellfire and M9

The second model expected for India is the Denza D9, a large luxury MPV that will compete with the MG M9 and Toyota Vellfire. The India-spec D9 is likely to use a 103kWh battery pack with a front-mounted motor producing 313hp and 360Nm. It is expected to offer a WLTP range of 520km and support DC charging at up to 200kW.

Inside, the D9 gets a 2+2+3 seating layout, with electrically adjustable, heated, ventilated and massaging second-row captain's chairs. Other features include three-zone climate control, powered thigh extenders, a Dynaudio sound system, full leather upholstery and ambient lighting. The D9 is expected to be priced at around Rs 90 lakh, placing it between the MG M9 and Toyota Vellfire.

Stay updated with all the latest happenings & developments in the automotive world by joining our official AUTOVERSE WhatsApp community.