BYD aspires to bring its Denza brand to Europe

Chinese automaker BYD has arrived at the Geneva Motor Show with its Denza sub-brand, which will soon bring its BEVs and hybrids to Europe. It looks like the D9 minivan will be the first to arrive, followed by the N7 SUV.

The Denza D9 debuted in China as a hybrid and a full-on electric vehicle in 2022. Its European counterpart may end up different, but there are no details at this point. On its domestic market, the D9 Hybrid utilizes a 1.5-liter turbo engine as a power source for either one or two electric motors. The peak power output is 400 PS (394 hp / 294 kW). Depending on the battery size and motor power, a full charge can give you up to 180 km (112 miles) of range. Firing up the engine extends that range to 1,000 km (621 miles) or so, BYD claims.

The D9 EV is also obtainable in FWD and AWD flavors. The former has 313 PS (309 hp / 230 kW) and the latter 374 PS (369 hp / 275 kW). When fully charged, it can cover up to 620 km (385 miles).

Despite the saturated minivan market of China, the Denza D9 is a solid performer there. The company has managed to produce more than 100,000 units of it within the first year. With a starting price of 335,000 Yuan, the average D9 buyer in China spends closer to 420,000 Yuan. According to BYD, this implies that the market is more interested in more powerful and better-equipped vans than low-end ones.