Denza – the premium brand of Chinese electrified vehicle specialist BYD – could look to Australia’s high-performance and ultra-luxury off-road market segments as the next steps in its rapid-fire local product expansion strategy, as part of BYD’s plan to become a top-three auto brand here by the end of next year.
Denza Australia operating chief Mark Harland told CarExpert the company has access to a very wide portfolio of models, including the Denza Z9 GT high-performance shooting brake, the Yangwang U8 ultra-luxury off-roader, and the Denza D9 people mover.
“The good news [is] anything above BYD we have access to under the Denza brand – whether that be a Yangwang, Fangchengbao or the Denzas,” said Mr Harland, adding: “some vehicles may be unique [to] Europe, for example, just because they’re not right for the Australian consumer.
“Likewise, there may be vehicles [imported] here that may never see the light of day in Europe or other parts of the world.”
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Australia is the first right-hand drive export market for the Denza B5 and B8 large off-road SUVs, which will be launched here in November and are sold in the Chinese market under the Fangchengbao brand.
The Denza-badged D9 electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) people mover is already sold in right-hand drive form in Hong Kong, as well as in left-hook guise for the wider Asian market. Europe has the Z9 GT, a high-performance shooting brake that is offered in both PHEV and EV forms, and is something of a ‘budget’ alternative to the Porsche Panamera and Taycan.
However, when asked how soon the Chinese luxury brand will expand its lineup after the imminent B5 and B8 launch, Mr Harland said Denza Australia will focus on its newly launched models and establishing its retail footprint first.
“It’s really going to depend on the marketplace. We can move as quickly or as slowly as we need to. The first job is establish our volume, establish our dealerships, establish that customer experience and the customer confidence, and then start to look at what else we can bring in.”
Denza Australia will open its local order book for the B5 and B8 in November, ahead of first customer deliveries commencing from December for the B5, and January for the larger B8. Full pricing and specifications are still to be communicated for either model, though the B5 is expected to start at under $80,000, and the B8 under $100,000.
The Denza B5 is a large five-seat off-road SUV with a long-range PHEV drivetrain, beefy 425kW/760Nm system outputs, a dual-speed transfer case with low range, and a 31.8kWh LFP battery offering a claimed 90km of zero-emissions driving range on the WLTC test cycle.
The Denza B8 is essentially a longer, three-row version of the same vehicle, and will offer both six- and seven-seat configurations in Australia. It quotes the same system outputs, but subs out the B5’s 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine for a larger 2.0-litre turbo unit, and quotes a higher 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity (versus 3000kg).
Rivals for the B5 include the likes of the GWM Tank 300, Jeep Wrangler, and five-seat versions of the Toyota Prado. The B8, meanwhile, has its sights set on the Defender 110 as well as the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series.
You can read our first local drive reviews of the new Denza B5 and Denza B8 via the links below.
Let us know which other models you’d like Denza Australia to release next!