BYD started the DENZA brand in partnership with Daimler
Did you know that the first generation DENZA electric vehicle was launched in 2014 (some 10 years ago) as the premiere offering from the first Sino-German joint venture dedicated to electric vehicles in China?
The partnership was signed in 2011 and only in the end of 2013 the first JV vehicle as initiated.
With nearly 3,000 units of this compact electric hatchback sold in its first year in 2015, DENZA quickly became the choice for those seeking convenient and reliable emission-free mobility in China.
It was called the DENZA 400 and the company’s “Made in China, for China” electric vehicle came from Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co., Ltd. (BDNT).
The DENZA 400 (pictured above) offered a brand new battery pack, electric motor and electronic control providing customers an electric range of up to 400 km on a full charge. (Imagine this, 10 years ago, BYD could deliver 400km of driving range on one full charge).
The Denza vehicles were manufactured at BDNT’s independent production line at the BYD main factory in Shenzhen. The new flexible production line could easily increase capacity based on future market demand.
In addition to electric vehicles, Daimler’s strategy in China to reduce emissions and promote environmental responsibility includes an increasing offering of plug-in hybrid vehicles. In 2013, Mercedes-Benz became the first automaker to offer petrol, diesel and hybrid models at the same time in China.
The Mercedes E 400 L Hybrid was the first locally-produced hybrid from a premium brand, while the smart electric drive (electric power consumption combined 15.1 kWh/100km/ CO2 emissions combined 0g/km) was the first imported premium all-electric vehicle from Europe.
The DENZA 400 featured an improved battery density achieved through an upgraded production process that increased the battery’s capacity from 47.5 kWh to 62 kWh while maintaining the original size. With an upgraded range of up to 400 km it was a market leader.
Meanwhile, in January 24, 2022, BYD said in an announcement that it had signed an equity transfer agreement with Daimler for Denza, which would increase BYD’s stake in the company to 90 percent and reduce Daimler’s stake to 10 percent.
Then in August 2024 Mercedes-Benz Group confirmed that they are no longer involved in Denza. Mercedes-Benz confirmed that the Mercedes-Benz Group sold its remaining 10 percent stake in Denza in July 2024.
“This means that Mercedes-Benz no longer holds any shares in Denza and BYD is the sole shareholder. Even the current Denza models do not include any Mercedes-Benz technology,” said a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson.
