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Denza

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Denza (disambiguation).
Shenzhen Denza New Energy Co., Ltd.
Company type
IndustryAutomotive
PredecessorShenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co., Ltd. (2010–2021)
FoundedMay 2010; 14 years ago (May 2010)
Headquarters
Shenzhen, Guangdong
,
China
Area served
Key people
Lian Yubo (CEO)
ProductsAutomobiles
OwnerBYD Auto Industry
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese深圳腾势新能源汽车有限公司
Hanyu PinyinShēnzhèn Téngshì Xīn Néngyuán Qìchē Yǒuxiàn Gōngsī
Websitedenza.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. The brand produces premium plug-in electric vehicles.

The company was founded in May 2010 as a joint venture between BYD Auto Industry and 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 entirely from the joint venture by transferring its remaining 10% stake to BYD.[4][5]

Name

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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

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Early period (2010–2021)

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Denza all-electric concept car at Auto Shanghai 2013

On 1 March 2010, BYD Auto and Daimler AG signed a memorandum of understanding for the joint development of electric vehicles.[7] The initial link-up led to the creation of a new, equal-ownership legal entity, Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co., Ltd. The company was formally established on 27 May 2010[8][9] and received a business license from the Chinese government in March 2011.[10]

The brand name Denza was introduced in March 2012. During its introduction, BYD chairman and founder Wang Chuanfu highlighted that BYD contributes its expertise in battery technology, electric drive systems, and practical experience in deploying electric vehicles on Chinese roads, while Daimler complements this with its experience in designing premium automobiles, know-how of electric vehicle architecture and safety, and a legacy of over 125 years in the industry.[11]

Denza showcased its first concept car in April 2012 at the Auto China motor show in Beijing.[12] It was expected that this product would be offered as an electric luxury car.[13]

By September 2014, BYD and Daimler had jointly invested more than €300 million into the joint venture.[11] The brand's initial product was set to be launched in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen in September 2014,[14] the launch date was then pushed back to late 2014.[15] Its first model, the Denza EV debuted in December 2014.[2]

When Denza launched its first car, sales of new energy vehicles depend on subsidies provided by the Chinese government. Purchasers of the car were 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][14] As of 2014, buyers were exempted from Beijing's license plate lottery and qualified for free plates in Shanghai and Shenzhen.[14]

In 2018, the Denza EV underwent extensive body restyling, changing its name to Denza 500.[16] 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.[17][18] Sales of the Denza X started at the end of 2020 exclusively on the Chinese market.[19]

Restructuring (2021–present)

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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 Daimler, which allegedly expressed a desire to end the venture. However, this information was denied.[20] 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%.[21]

Denza D9 DM-i

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.[22] 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.[23] In March 2023, Denza introduced its second new model after restructuring, the Denza N7 battery electric SUV.[24][25] In the same month, the range was expanded with a larger SUV Denza N8, which is based on the Denza X.[26] Denza plans to release product lines starting with the D, E, N, Z, and A letters.[27]

In June 2024, Denza started sales of the right-hand drive D9 EV in Hong Kong.[28] It opened its first flagship store in Kowloon Bay, which is the first presence of the brand outside mainland China.[29]

In September 2024, Mercedes-Benz transferred its remaining 10% shareholding in Denza to BYD, making Denza a fully owned subsidiary of BYD.[5]

Products

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Main article: List of BYD Auto vehicles § Denza

Current models

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  • Denza N7
    Denza N7
  • Denza D9
    Denza D9
  • Denza Z9 GT
    Denza Z9 GT

Discontinued models

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  • Denza EV
    Denza EV
  • Denza 500
    Denza 500
  • Denza X
    Denza X
  • Denza N8
    Denza N8

Concept vehicles

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  • Denza EV Concept (2012)
  • Denza Inception (2022)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Auto Show Concludes, China Brands Rise". CRI English. 3 May 2012. Archived from the original on May 17, 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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)
  4. ^ "品牌故事 - 腾势官网". Denza website. 2024-10-07. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "Brand". denza.com. Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co., Ltd. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  7. ^ "UPDATE 2-Daimler and BYD sign agreement on electric cars". reuters.com. Thomson Reters. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 23 Sep 2013.
  8. ^ "Daimler and BYD Put Electric Car Venture in Gear". The New York Times. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  9. ^ "Company". denza.com. Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co., Ltd. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  10. ^ "Joint Venture between BYD and Daimler Receives Business License". BYD Auto. 2011-03-01. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011.
  11. ^ a b Costello, Mike (2023-04-08). "Everything you need to know about Denza, a BYD and Mercedes-Benz experiment". CarExpert. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  12. ^ For brand name debut, see "Daimler and BYD launch new electric car brand". China Daily. 31 March 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  13. ^ Lau, Shirley (23 Sep 2013). "Hybrid Hothouse". Money Magazine. South China Morning Post. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "Daimler expects sales to surpass Audi, BMW in China this year". reuters.com. Thomson Reuters. Jul 6, 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  16. ^ "Denza 500 - elektryczny brzydal od Daimlera" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2020-06-25. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  17. ^ "Mercedes-Benz-styled Denza X to hit market at Auto Guangzhou". Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  18. ^ "China's Denza X Electric SUV Is A Mercedes-Benz In All But Name". Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ "Is the Daimler-BYD JV Denza about to fall in China? | electrive.com". www.electrive.com. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  21. ^ "Mercedes-Benz Media". Mercedes-Benz Media. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  22. ^ Zhang, Phate (2022-08-24). "BYD's Denza brand officially launches D9 MPV in China". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  23. ^ "BYD to Open 270 Denza Brand Stores in China by Year's End". www.yicaiglobal.com. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  24. ^ "Denza Inception Unveiled On The Chengdu Auto Show In China". 27 August 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
  25. ^ "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.
  26. ^ "Denza N8 is an expensive BYD Tang sibling. To launch this year". 29 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  27. ^ "BYD-Mercedes Backed Denza D9 Electric MPV Officially Launched in China". 16 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  28. ^ Kang, Lei (2024-06-25). "BYD Denza opens its 1st HK flagship store". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  29. ^ "DENZA inaugurates first flagship store in Hong Kong, China". autonews.gasgoo.com. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
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