Denza, the premium new energy vehicle (NEV) brand under BYD , has begun to unveil its upcoming model, the Denza N9, as part of its strategy to expand its product lineup. The brand shared two images of the N9 SUV on its Weibo account, highlighting its large dimensions, although no additional specifications were provided.
Zhao Changjiang, Denza’s head of sales, commented on Weibo that the N9 will utilize BYD’s e3 technology, referring to the model as a “tech Super Gentleman.” The e3 technology is described as a scaled-down version of BYD’s more advanced e⁴ technology, which is designed for ultra-luxury vehicles. This technology is based on the Xuanjian architecture and features tri-motor independent drive combined with dual-motor independent steering at the rear wheels.
The Denza brand recently launched the Z9GT on September 20, which marked the first model to feature the e3 technology, with a starting price of RMB 334,800 ($47,290). On September 25, Denza shared images of the camouflage-wrapped N9 during summer testing, where Zhao claimed that the new SUV would be a model that its competitors would struggle to match within the next five years.
Founded in February 2011 as a 50-50 joint venture between BYD and Daimler, Denza was the first Chinese-foreign joint venture focused on NEVs in China. Following the rebranding of the Daimler brand to Mercedes-Benz in February 2022, BYD increased its stake in Denza to 90 percent and acquired the remaining 10 percent last month.
Initially, Denza launched several now-discontinued battery electric vehicle (BEV) models, including the Denza 300 and Denza 400, alongside the Denza X hybrid SUV. However, sales for these early models were weak, and the brand remained relatively unknown.
In mid-2022, BYD relaunched the Denza brand, introducing the D9 multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) on May 16, 2022, as part of the brand’s refresh. The D9 officially launched on August 23, 2022, with deliveries commencing on October 25 of the same year. Prior to the Z9GT launch, Denza also released the N7 SUV on July 3, 2023, and the N8 SUV on August 5 of the previous year.
