Denza
Company type |
|
---|---|
Industry | Automotive |
Predecessor | Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co., Ltd. (2010–2021) |
Founded | May 2010 |
Headquarters | , China |
Area served | |
Key people | Lian Yubo (CEO) |
Products | Automobiles |
Owner | BYD Auto Industry |
Chinese name | |
Simplified Chinese | 深圳腾势新能源汽车有限公司 |
Hanyu Pinyin | Shēnzhèn Téngshì Xīn Néngyuán Qìchē Yǒuxiàn Gōngsī |
Website | denza.com tengshiauto.com (China) |
Footnotes / references [1] |
Shenzhen Denza New Energy Co., Ltd., trading as Denza (Chinese: 腾势; pinyin: Téngshì), is an automobile manufacturing company and brand owned by BYD Auto Industry. The brand produces premium plug-in electric vehicles.
The company was founded in May 2010 as a joint venture between BYD and the Daimler AG (currently Mercedes-Benz Group). In late 2014, its first model, the Denza EV was put on sale in selected Chinese cities only.[2] In late 2021, Denza underwent a restructuring as Mercedes-Benz reduced its share to 10%, while BYD held the rest. BYD started investing in new models, such as the D9 MPV, the N8 and N7 SUVs and the Z9 full-size car.[3] In September 2024, Mercedes-Benz withdrew from the joint venture by transferring its remaining 10% stake to BYD.[4][5]
Name
[edit]An invented name from the Chinese Tengshi (simplified Chinese: 腾势; traditional Chinese: 騰勢; pinyin: Téngshì), Denza roughly translates to "rising power and momentum".[6] Alternative translations include "win power" or "winning circumstances".
History
[edit]Early period (2010–2021)
[edit]On 1 March 2010, BYD Auto and Daimler AG signed a memorandum of understanding for the joint development of electric vehicles.[7] That initial link-up led to the creation of a new, equal-ownership legal entity, Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co., Ltd., which was formally established on 27 May 2010[8][9] and received a business license from the Chinese government in March 2011.[10] Its brand name, Denza, debuted in March 2012, and a new energy vehicle (NEV) concept car was first shown in April 2012 at the Auto China motor show in Beijing.[11] It was expected that this product would be offered as a luxury car.[12]
While its initial product was set to be launched in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen in September 2014,[13] in June of that year the launch date was pushed back to late 2014,[14] and the car debuted in December of that year.[2]
At that time, sales of new energy vehicles depend on subsidies provided by the Chinese government. When Denza launched its first car in December 2014, purchasers of the car qualified for a RMB 78,000 subsidy and while the total subsidy on offer depends on location of purchase, no more than RMB 120,000 can be deducted.[2][13] As of 2014, buyers were exempted from Beijing's license plate lottery and qualified for free plates in Shanghai and Shenzhen.[13]
In 2018, the Denza EV underwent extensive body restyling, changing its name to Denza 500.[15] In November 2019, Denza presented its second model based on the second-generation BYD Tang. The vehicle was designed with significant participation of Mercedes-Benz designers, which handled exterior and interior design.[16][17] Sales of the Denza X started at the end of 2020 exclusively on the Chinese market.[18]
Restructuring (2021–present)
[edit]In February 2021, the German business daily Handelsblatt reported that the relations between Denza's co-owners were in crisis, as its sales did not meet the expectations of Mercedes, which allegedly expressed a desire to end the venture. However, this information was denied.[19] Due to the uncertain future of Denza, a recovery plan was prepared and changes in the joint venture structure was announced in December 2021. The unpopular Denza X SUV was discontinued, and the alliance changed its name to Shenzhen Denza New Energy Vehicle Co., Ltd. In turn, Mercedes-Benz Group reduced its shares from 50% to 10% in favor of BYD's higher stake of 90%.[20]
The first model since the restructuring, the Denza D9 minivan was introduced in August 2022. The D9 is available in plug-in hybrid and battery electric variant.[21] At the same time, the company announced the expansion of its dealer network in China with a plan to open 270 new points by the end of 2022 throughout the country.[22] In March 2023, Denza introduced its second new model after restructuring, the Denza N7 battery electric SUV.[23][24] In the same month, the range was expanded with a larger SUV Denza N8, which is based on the Denza X.[25] Denza plans to release product lines starting with the D, E, N, Z, and A letters, spelling the name DENZA.[26]
In June 2024, Denza started sales of the right-hand drive D9 EV in Hong Kong.[27] It opened its first flagship store in Kowloon Bay, which is the first presence of the brand outside mainland China.[28]
In September 2024, Mercedes-Benz transferred its remaining 10% shareholding in Denza to BYD, making Denza a fully owned subsidiary of BYD.[5]
Products
[edit]Current models
[edit]- Denza D9 (2022–present), full-size MPV, BEV/PHEV
- Denza N7 (2023–present), mid-size SUV, BEV
- Denza N9 (upcoming), full-size SUV, BEV/PHEV
- Denza Z9 (2024–present), full-size car, BEV/PHEV
- Denza Z9 GT (2024–present), full-size fastback car, BEV/PHEV
-
Denza N7
-
Denza D9
-
Denza Z9 GT
Discontinued models
[edit]- Denza EV/400/500 (2014–2019), compact SUV, BEV
- Denza X (2019–2021), mid-size SUV, BEV/PHEV
- Denza N8 (2023–2024), mid-size SUV, PHEV
-
Denza EV
-
Denza 500
-
Denza X
-
Denza N8
Concept vehicles
[edit]- Denza EV Concept (2012)
- Denza Inception (2022)
See also
[edit]- BYD Auto
- List of BYD Auto vehicles
- Yangwang
- Fangchengbao
- Automobile manufacturers and brands of China
- List of automobile manufacturers of China
References
[edit]- ^ "Auto Show Concludes, China Brands Rise". CRI English. 3 May 2012. Archived from the original on May 17, 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
- ^ a b c Pugliese, Tony (8 December 2014). "CHINA: BYD-Daimler launches new Denza EV". just-auto.com. Aroq Ltd. Archived from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
- ^ Germany, Stuttgarter Zeitung, Stuttgart. "Daimler: Stuttgarter Autobauer reduziert Denza-Anteil". stuttgarter-zeitung.de (in German). Retrieved 2021-12-24.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "品牌故事 - 腾势官网". Denza website. 2024-10-07. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ a b "【图】腾势汽车正式告别合资公司,奔驰低调退出_汽车之家" [BYD Denza officially bids farewell to the joint venture, and Mercedes-Benz quietly withdraws]. Autohome. 2024-09-16. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ "Brand". denza.com. Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co., Ltd. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- ^ "UPDATE 2-Daimler and BYD sign agreement on electric cars". reuters.com. Thomson Reters. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 23 Sep 2013.
- ^ "Daimler and BYD Put Electric Car Venture in Gear". The New York Times. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
- ^ "Company". denza.com. Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co., Ltd. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
- ^ "Joint Venture between BYD and Daimler Receives Business License". BYD Auto. 2011-03-01. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011.
- ^ For brand name debut, see "Daimler and BYD launch new electric car brand". China Daily. 31 March 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- For concept car showing, see "Denza debuts first model in Beijing". The Malaysian Insider. 24 April 2012. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- ^ Lau, Shirley (23 Sep 2013). "Hybrid Hothouse". Money Magazine. South China Morning Post. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
- ^ a b c "Daimler-BYD Joint Venture's New All-Electric Vehicle DENZA unveiled at Auto China". Daimler Global Media Site. Daimler AG. 21 April 2014. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- ^ "Daimler expects sales to surpass Audi, BMW in China this year". reuters.com. Thomson Reuters. Jul 6, 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
- ^ "Denza 500 - elektryczny brzydal od Daimlera" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2020-06-25. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
- ^ "Mercedes-Benz-styled Denza X to hit market at Auto Guangzhou". Retrieved 2020-06-24.
- ^ "China's Denza X Electric SUV Is A Mercedes-Benz In All But Name". Retrieved 2020-06-24.
- ^ "Oto "chiński Mercedes". Nazywa się Denza X, ma 400 KM i po części trafi do Europy" (in Polish). 30 April 2019. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
- ^ "Is the Daimler-BYD JV Denza about to fall in China? | electrive.com". www.electrive.com. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
- ^ "Mercedes-Benz Media". Mercedes-Benz Media. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
- ^ Zhang, Phate (2022-08-24). "BYD's Denza brand officially launches D9 MPV in China". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
- ^ "BYD to Open 270 Denza Brand Stores in China by Year's End". www.yicaiglobal.com. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
- ^ "Denza Inception Unveiled On The Chengdu Auto Show In China". 27 August 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
- ^ "Chińczycy skopiowali niemieckie auto. Każdy pozna, co udaje" [The Chinese copied the German car. Everyone will know what he is pretending to be]. Autokult (in Polish). 2023-03-08. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
- ^ "Denza N8 is an expensive BYD Tang sibling. To launch this year". 29 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
- ^ "BYD-Mercedes Backed Denza D9 Electric MPV Officially Launched in China". 16 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
- ^ Kang, Lei (2024-06-25). "BYD Denza opens its 1st HK flagship store". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "DENZA inaugurates first flagship store in Hong Kong, China". autonews.gasgoo.com. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
External links
[edit]- Car manufacturers of China
- Electric vehicle manufacturers of China
- Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 2010
- Chinese companies established in 2010
- Manufacturing companies based in Shenzhen
- Chinese brands
- Luxury motor vehicle manufacturers
- BYD Auto
- Mercedes-Benz Group joint ventures
- Chinese-foreign joint-venture companies
- Denza
- 2010 in Shenzhen