BYD launches Denza in Europe with 952 hp Z9 GT set for Q4 2025 arrival.
Canadian plans paused due to new 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicle imports.
Denza now fully controlled by BYD after buying out Mercedes-Benz’s remaining stake in 2024.
BYD has launched its premium electric vehicle brand Denza in Europe, sharing its first model, the Z9 GT, at Brera Design Week in Milan. The vehicle is expected to arrive in European showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2025 as part of the Chinese automaker’s plans for global expansion despite rising trade barriers.
The Z9 GT will be offered in both battery-electric and plug-in hybrid configurations. The flagship model produces 952 horsepower from a tri-motor setup and features a 100.1 kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery. With dimensions exceeding those of the Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo, the Z9 GT positions Denza to compete in the European luxury EV segment.
A second model, the Denza D9 — a seven-seat multi-purpose vehicle — will follow in Europe, although no release date has been announced. Both vehicles will initially be built in China and exported to Europe. BYD plans to begin European production at its plant in Hungary starting in the not-too-distant future.
Denza was established in 2010 as a 50:50 joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz. BYD increased its ownership to 90 % in 2021 and fully acquired Mercedes-Benz’s remaining stake in 2024, gaining complete control over the brand. With Denza now wholly owned, BYD is targeting premium buyers and younger, tech-savvy consumers in Europe.
While BYD is advancing in Europe, its plans to enter the Canadian market have been paused. The decision follows Canada’s recent announcement of a 100 % tariff on electric vehicles imported from China, making local sales economically unviable under current conditions.
High Tariffs Stall BYD’s Canada Launch, but North American Entry Remains in Sight
The European Union has also introduced a 17 % duty on Chinese battery-electric vehicles, citing concerns over production subsidies. In March, Chinese and EU officials met in Beijing to address ongoing trade issues related to EV supply chains.
Despite trade challenges, BYD continues to grow its international sales. In the first quarter of 2025, it sold more than 206,000 vehicles outside China, more than double the figure from a year earlier. First-quarter revenue rose by 86 % year-over-year to 8.5 billion yuan, or approximately $1.6 billion CAD.
The company sold 986,098 new energy passenger vehicles globally in Q1, including 416,388 battery-only cars. BYD outpaced Tesla’s domestic Chinese sales of 172,754 electric vehicles during the same period, according to the China Passenger Car Association. BYD no longer produces internal combustion engine passenger vehicles.
Source: CNBC
