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Denza – the luxury sub-brand of BYD – has been confirmed for Australia with one of the first models likely to include a Prado-rivalling off-road hybrid SUV.
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BYD has confirmed "more than one model" will be offered from its Denza sub-brand when it launches in Australia.
Denza – the luxury division of BYD – has been officially confirmed for Australia, with a local launch likely in the second half of 2025, though an exact date hasn't been locked-in.
BYD Asia-Pacific general manager Liu Xueliang said the electric and hybrid specialist "is definitely going to launch the Denza brand in Australia" but the model line-up is still to be determined.
"There is still a consideration going on about which [Denza] model we're going to bring to Australia," Xueliang said via a translator.
"What we can make sure right now is that more than one model will come to Australia."
The first model is likely to be the Denza B5 plug-in hybrid SUV – a close relation to the BYD Shark 6 ute – which is sold in its Chinese home market as the Fangchengbao Bao 5.
Other Denza vehicles available globally include the D9 multi-purpose vehicle, N7 mid-size SUV, N9 large SUV, Z9 sedan, and the Z9 GT wagon – all of which offer electric power.
EVDirect chief executive officer David Smitherman told Drive the brand "looks like" it will be marketed separately to BYD in Australia – rather than being sold as 'BYD Denza'.
This would be unlike the Ora, Tank and Haval sub-brands from rival GWM which all fall under the one brand in Australia with combined sales reporting.
"Things are still being worked out, but as a brand it looks like it's going to be Denza as a standalone," Smitherman said. "It's pretty exciting."
Smitherman added BYD is still deciding if Denza vehicles will be sold in separate locations to its main brand in Australia.
Denza does have separate showrooms overseas – such as in high-traffic shopping centres – however a handful of locations are shared with BYD, including a recently-opened flagship store in Macau, China.
The sub-brand was founded in 2010 as a 50:50 joint-venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz.
BYD's share in Denza increased to 90 per cent in 2021 before it fully acquired it in September 2024, with the brand recently expanding into the right-hand drive Hong Kong market ahead of its confirmed launch in Europe – and now Australia.
Yangwang – another BYD sub-brand – remains under consideration for Australia, with the U8 flagship SUV retailing for more than $AU200,000 in China, giving it a lower sales potential over BYD's more-affordable vehicles.
"There's no exact date for Yangwang [in Australia] yet," Xueliang said. "For BYD we are always market-oriented, we want to hear the reflection from our market and customers.
"If there is a need for Yangwang, then we'll start a conversation and consider when we'll start the journey to bring Yangwang to Australia."
Xueliang cited Australian testing of the recently-launched Shark 6 ute as an example of its local market considerations.
"For all the models that BYD wants to bring to Australia, we want to make sure it meets all the drive occassions… and also meet the needs of our customers in Australia."
Denza will join a number of new vehicle brands launching or returning in the Australian market – mostly from China – including Aion, Cadillac, Deepal, Foton, GAC, Geely, GMC, JAC, Jaecoo, Leapmotor, Skywell, Smart, Xpeng and Zeekr.
BYD – which is distributed by EVDirect locally – has sold more than 35,000 vehicles in Australia since it launched under its current arrangement three years ago, first with the Atto 3 small electric SUV.
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Jordan is a motoring journalist based in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for cars. He has been surrounded by classic Fords and Holdens, brand-new cars, and everything in between from birth, with his parents’ owning an automotive workshop in regional Victoria. Jordan started writing about cars in 2021, and joined the Drive team in 2024.
