BYD takes full control of Denza, buys remaining 10% from Mercedes-Benz Group
BYD has taken full control of its Denza sub-brand, finally acquiring the remaining 10% of shares from Mercedes-Benz Group, according to report from Bloomberg. Established since 2011, Denza started with a 50:50 ownership between BYD and Mercedes-Benz and was later restructured to a 90:10 ownership in 2021. The Chinese car manufacturer has now taken full control of the Denza sub-brand (which is also set for a Malaysian debut in Q1 2025).
The acquisition is said to have stemmed from the increasing number of foreign carmakers dialing back their exposure to the Chinese auto market. The pull out from Mercedes-Benz Group ends the 13-year partnership that started in 2011. This acquisition/pull out could also be the result of heightened trade tensions between China and Europe as the European commission works to impose additional tariffs on Chinese EVs.
The Denza sub-brand’s lineup consists of luxury new energy vehicles (NEVs) that include plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and fully electric (BEV) models. One of its models that have been sighted in Malaysia is the Denza D9 luxury MPV, which is available as both a PHEV and BEV.
The EV version of the Denza D9 comes with three variants which are the 620 Premium, 600 4WD Premium, and 600 4WD Flagship, priced from 379,800 Yuan (approx. RM234k). The base 620 Premium variant has a front-mounted electric motor rated at 313 PS and 360 Nm, enabling a 0-100 km/h time of 9.5 seconds and a maximum range of 620 km following the CLTC standard.
Both the 4WD variants feature two electric motors, powering all four wheels boosting a combined power output to 374 PS and torque to 470 Nm. This all-wheel drive configuration enables an acceleration time of 6.9 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h. However, the addition of the electric motor results in a slightly reduced electric range of 600 km (CLTC).
During the Malaysian launch of the new BYD Seal Dynamic variant and the “enhanced” BYD Atto 3, BYD Malaysia Managing Director, Eagle Zhao announced that the Denza sub-brand will be launched in Malaysia by the 1st quarter of 2025. If the Denza D9 is its first model, it will rival the likes of the Maxus Mifa 9.
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