Denza, a luxury spin-off brand of BYD, debuted in Europe with a high-profile event at the Opera Palais Garnier in Paris last week, introducing its first model for the European and UK markets, the flagship Z9GT shooting brake. The launch was bolstered by celebrity endorsement, with actor Daniel Craig serving as the face of the brand's European expansion. Denza claims to be the world's first premium brand devoted solely to new-energy vehicles, and the Z9GT is set for a formal launch on 8 April at the Palais Garnier opera house in Paris. According to an official statement, BYD executive vice president Stella Li emphasized that Daniel Craig's qualities align with Denza's values, highlighting the brand's global ambitions.
The Z9GT is positioned as a rival to the Porsche Cross Turismo and is available in both fully-electric and plug-in hybrid variants, known as Super Hybrid DM. Its Blade Battery 2.0 promises a range of up to 644 miles based on China's test cycles. The vehicle is compatible with BYD's Flash Charging technology, which can deliver speeds of up to 1,500 kW, making it three times faster than the most powerful EV chargers currently available in the UK. Flash Charging can charge a compatible EV from 10% to 70% in just five minutes under normal temperatures, and it uses an on-site energy storage system to limit grid impact. BYD has already deployed 4,239 Flash Charging stations in China and forecasts another 16,000 installations in 2026, with plans to install hundreds of Flash Chargers in the UK this year.
Daniel Craig represents a powerful combination of strength, sophistication and authenticity. Those qualities resonate deeply with what Denza stands for. As we bring the brand to the world - across Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa - we are proud to welcome an actor whose presence and character reflect the spirit of Denza. Together, we want to show how technology, design and emotion can come together to create a new vision of premium mobility.
BYD's market dominance is underscored by its recent overtaking of Tesla as the world's largest EV seller, with sales of more than 2.25 million EVs last year, representing an increase of almost 28% from the previous year. This growth supports Denza's aggressive entry into competitive markets like Europe. Meanwhile, competitor Geely is advancing in charging technology, with reports indicating that it charged a Lynk & Co 10 with an Energee Golden Brick battery from 10% to 97% in 8 minutes and 42 seconds, and from 10% to 80% in 5 minutes and 32 seconds. According to Göteborgs-Posten, Julia Brzezinska discussed the implications of such advancements. The Lynk & Co 10 reportedly has a range of 80 mil, approximately 800 km, based on China's test cycle. Key unknowns include the exact price of the Denza Z9GT, the specific launch date in the UK, and the detailed features and gadgets included in the vehicle.
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