DENZA electric vehicles to be distributed whilst BYD starts local assembly
The BYD electric vehicle brand which has been distributed by automotive powerhouse Sime Darby Motors since December 2022 and has seen phenomenal sales success in Malaysia despite a Chinese electric car price war (which started in March 2024) and even tough competition from European brands in the last year.
Interestingly, in early October 2024, JPJ registration data showed that Sime Darby Motors delivered the 10,000 BYD unit and the demand in Malaysia continues into 2025.
More recently, BYD Auto Industry Co. Ltd. and Sime Darby Auto Imports Sdn Bhd. signed an agreement to be official importer for Denza, BYD’s premium sub-brand, in Malaysia. At the same signing event BYD Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. who have have had an office in Sunway Malaysia for some years now took on the role of being official distributor for Denza premium electric vehicles in Malaysia.
With this news it looks like BYD Malaysia will sell fully imported premium Denza electric vehicles (like the just launch D9 MPV) and Sime Darby Motors will assemble and sell BYD electric and hybrid vehicles in Malaysia.
Yes, BYD will start local assembly with Sime Darby. Last year, in February, MITI already hinted to BYD and Sime Darby Motors to look into local assembly for BYD vehicles to take advantage of vehicle tax breaks.
Yes, BYD will soon bring in their all new hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles to sell in Malaysia and this will give Honda and Toyota tough competition as they are currently the leaders in hybrid vehicles in Malaysia.
Strong rumors suggest the arrival of the BYD Qin L PHEV, which is powered by its new 5th generation DM system. This PHEV sedan is said to achieve up to 2,100 km on a full tank and charge.
This BYD PHEV sedan has a 1.5 litre naturally-aspirated engine outputting 99 hp and 126 Nm torque. The EV portion on the other hand sees for lower-spec variants to feature a 10.08 kWh LFP battery and a 120 kW drive motor, while the higher-end trims bumps the motor and battery specs to 160 kW and 15.874 kWh respectively.
BYD currently claims for the lesser specs of Qin L to be capable of 80 km of fully-electric driving, while higher-end trims be achieving 120 km.
Then there is the BYD Shark pickup truck which is already selling well in South America and Africa. This will be launched in Malaysia with a hybrid powertrain to take on heritage best sellers from Japan and America.
But it is the BYD Sealion Hybrid that Malaysians will want. Why? Well, the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i Super Hybrid is a groundbreaking vehicle that merges advanced plug-in hybrid technology with the innovative BYD Blade Battery.
Launched in Thailand in August 2024, for RM119k you get a small 1.5L petrol engine with a large electric motor and Blade battery pack that delivers 100km of claimed electric driving range which means you only use petrol when truly needed.
