Denza has officially stepped onto the global stage, using a launch event in Paris to confirm its move beyond China and name its first worldwide models: the Z9 GT and D9 DM-i.
The Z9 GT is priced from €115,000 (RM534,000) including VAT, while the D9 DM-i’s price has yet to be announced.
The premium BYD-owned brand held the event at the Palais Garnier, setting up what it sees as a more technology-led take on the upper end of the market.
The brand said its guiding idea is “Technology Drives Elegance”, with the pitch centred on electrified powertrains, advanced chassis systems and faster charging. Stella Li, BYD executive vice-president, said Denza aimed to define premium motoring through technology that fits naturally into daily life.
Leading the push is the Denza Z9 GT, a shooting brake offered in both battery-electric and plug-in hybrid forms.
Denza positions it as a flagship grand tourer with a tri-motor setup in EV form, 0-100kph in 2.7 seconds, and chassis tricks such as independent rear-wheel steering that enable very tight turns and even crab-walk movement in confined spaces.
Inside, it packs a 50-inch augmented-reality head-up display, a 17.3-inch centre screen, plus two 13.2-inch displays for the driver and front passenger.
Incidentally, the Z9 GT is expected to head to Malaysia as well, joining the all-electric D9 already offered. How soon it will come is still up in the air.
Denza D9 DM-i
Alongside it is the Denza D9 DM-i, a large premium MPV aimed at buyers who need space as much as comfort. Denza said it can carry seven adults standing 180cm tall, along with seven carry-on suitcases and seven business backpacks.
Its DM-i plug-in hybrid powertrain delivers all-wheel drive, up to 209km of electric-only range, and up to 949km combined with a full battery and full fuel tank.
Both models also get audio systems developed with French specialist Devialet, with 20 speakers in the Z9GT and 16 in the D9, plus Dolby Atmos support.
Denza is also using the event to talk up BYD’s coming Flash Charging push in Europe, claiming up to 1,500kW charging capability and confirming plans for 6,000 stations outside China within 12 months, half of them in Europe.
The European rollout begins in Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the UK, with Denza targeting at least 30 countries by year-end and 150 retail stores in Europe by the end of 2026. In Latin America, it said stores are already operating in Brazil and Mexico.
