BYD's luxury brand Denza to debut in India on November 13, 2026

BYD is officially bringing its luxury electric vehicle brand, Denza, to India on November 13, 2026. Originally started in 2010 as a joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz, Denza is now a fully owned subsidiary of BYD. The brand aims to target the luxury electric vehicle price bracket ranging from Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore. Initial vehicles will enter the country as Completely Built Units under the 2,500-unit homologation exemption quota, with local assembly possible later based on market demand.

Retail Setup

Denza will establish its own exclusive showrooms across major Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities, separate from standard BYD dealerships. The dealership network will grow in a phased manner relying on customer feedback. On debut day, the company will reveal its retail setup and product roadmap.

Models and Features

Autocar India reports that the lineup will feature both the Z9 GT shooting brake and the D9 luxury MPV. The D9 is a 7-seater electric MPV measuring 5,250 mm long, with a 103 kWh battery pack, front-mounted motor producing 313 hp and 360 Nm, and a WLTP range of 520 km supporting up to 200 kW DC charging. Expected to cost around Rs 90 lakh, its cabin offers Nappa leather, zero-gravity second-row captain seats with 14-way electric adjustment, heating, ventilation, and massage functions, alongside a 15.6-inch central screen. The Z9 GT serves as the range-topper priced between Rs 1.2 crore and Rs 1.5 crore, packing a 122.5 kWh battery and a triple-motor setup pushing 1,156 hp to all four wheels. It hits 0 to 100 kph in 2.7 seconds, supports charging up to 1,500 kW for a 10 to 97 percent top-up in nine minutes, and includes unique hardware like rear-wheel steering, crab-walk, and a Compass Turn 360° function.

Context

Luxury electric vehicle brands entering India often use homologation exemption quotas to test the market with imported models before committing to local assembly. This strategy lets automakers gauge high-end buyer demand without immediate heavy manufacturing investments.