BYD to bring luxury brand Denza to India, with two electric models likely

Chinese electric car maker BYD is preparing another major entry into the Indian automobile market. The company has officially announced its high-end luxury sub-brand Denza in India and has released teasers. Two highly advanced, premium electric vehicles could be launched in India under the brand initially. They are likely to be sold through exclusive showrooms separate from the company's main showrooms.

The first is the Denza Z9 GT, a high-performance electric fastback. It has a three-motor setup, one at the front and two at the rear, producing 1140 hp of power and 1210 Nm of torque.

The car can accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in just 2.7 seconds. Its top speed is 270 kmph.

The Z9 GT has a 122.5 kWh battery. Its range is about 600 km as per WLTP. With Denza's ultra-fast charging technology and the right charger, the car can charge from 10 to 97 per cent in just 9 minutes. It also has rear-wheel steering and a "crab-crawl" function that lets the vehicle move sideways.

The second is the Denza D9, a fully luxury seven-seater MPV designed especially for chauffeur-driven customers. It has a 103 kWh Blade battery that gives a range of about 520 km on a single charge. The car supports DC fast charging of up to 200 kW.

The D9's seating layout is 2+2+3. The second-row captain seats come with high-end features such as electric adjustment, heating, ventilation, massage and leg rests.

On pricing, both vehicles may initially be imported into India through the CBU (Completely Built-Up Unit) route. The Z9 GT may be priced between about Rs 1.2 crore and Rs 1.5 crore, while the D9 is expected to cost around Rs 80 lakh. In the Indian market, the D9 could start at about Rs 80 lakh and will compete mainly with the Toyota Vellfire and some large Mercedes vehicles. The arrival of these vehicles will intensify competition in India's luxury EV segment.