Denza, a luxury spin-off brand of Chinese automotive giant BYD, unveiled its first European and UK model at the Palais Garnier opera house in Paris last week. The flagship Z9GT shooting brake will be officially launched on 8 April at the same venue, with actor Daniel Craig serving as the face of the brand's European introduction. Denza claims to be the world's first premium brand devoted solely to new-energy vehicles.
The Z9GT shooting brake will compete directly with models like the Porsche Cross Turismo in the luxury electric vehicle segment. It will be available with either fully-electric or plug-in hybrid powertrains. The vehicle is compatible with BYD's proprietary Flash Charging technology, which the company says can deliver charging speeds of up to 1,500kW.
The Z9GT is scheduled to arrive in Britain later this year. BYD's Flash Charging technology can charge compatible EVs from 10% to 70% in just five minutes under normal temperatures. This charging speed is reportedly three times faster than the most powerful EV chargers currently available in the UK market.
The technology achieves these speeds through on-site, ultra-fast-discharge energy storage systems that power the charging stations. The infrastructure rollout for Flash Charging is already well underway in China, where 4,000 stations are currently operational and 20,000 are promised by the end of 2026. BYD plans to expand this technology to other markets, including the UK, where the company will install hundreds of Flash Chargers this year.
0, which the company says can deliver a range of up to 644 miles based on China's test cycles. BYD's market position provides significant backing for Denza's European ambitions, as the parent company has officially overtaken Tesla as the world's largest EV seller. 25 million electric vehicles last year, representing almost 28% growth compared to the previous year.
However, BYD faces competition in the ultra-fast charging space from other Chinese manufacturers, particularly Geely. According to major media reports, Geely recently charged a Lynk & Co 10 from 10% to 97% in 8 minutes and 42 seconds, beating BYD's claim of 9 minutes for the same charging range. The Lynk & Co 10 used in Geely's test features an Energee Golden Brick battery and a 900V system, with the charging from 10% to 80% reportedly taking 5 minutes and 32 seconds.
The vehicle has a claimed range of approximately 800 kilometers based on China's test cycle. Denza's European launch represents BYD's strategy to establish a luxury presence in key global markets, leveraging its parent company's scale and technological innovations. Industry observers have noted the potential implications of Chinese luxury brands entering the European market, which could intensify competition and accelerate technology adoption.
The entry of Denza into the European luxury EV market adds another competitor to an already crowded field, challenging established players like Porsche and Tesla. Several key details about Denza's European rollout remain unknown, including the exact pricing of the Z9GT shooting brake and when exactly it will be available in the UK beyond the general 'later this year' timeframe. The number of Flash Charging stations BYD will install in the UK in 2024 has also not been specified.
Additional questions surround the real-world performance of both the Z9GT and Flash Charging technology under European conditions, such as compatibility with existing infrastructure and actual charging speeds in varying temperatures.