BYD Moves To Full Control Of Denza As Mercedes Exits

According to a report published by a Chinese news outlet CNC, BYD has now acquired full ownership of Denza, which was formed as a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz owning half of the shares.

For the record, Denza was founded in 2011 and has since released a variety of car models and, more recently, electric vehicles. The Denza Z9 GT, the company's most recent model, will make its global debut on September 20. The initial investment was approximately $1 billion, but a string of unsuccessful car models forced Mercedes to reduce its stake in the company. Back in 2021, BYD acquired a 90% stake, leaving Mercedes out of new vehicle development and only a shareholder. Since then, the company has picked up and gained traction.

A concept car was shown at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show, which led to the production of the Denza in 2014, which was based on a Mercedes B-class platform and the BYD e6 powertrain. Later versions were dubbed the Denza 400 and Denza 500. The vehicle was never very popular, and in 2019 it was discontinued in favor of the new Denza, the Denza X, which was inspired by the BYD Tang. The Denza X was offered in both plug-in hybrid and all-electric variants, in contrast to the original Denza, which was exclusively an all-electric vehicle. The Denza X featured badges proclaiming that it was styled by Mercedes Benz and sold in Mercedes Benz showrooms, in contrast to the original Denza, which seemed to indicate that Mercedes Benz wanted to do as little as possible with the vehicle.

Photo: CarNewsChina

According to an unofficial report yesterday, BYD has taken full control of Denza, and Mercedes is out. Given that Denza is performing well under BYD's management, this move seems reasonable.
Earlier this year, the brand delivered its 200,000th vehicle, continuing its rapid growth since 2022. Denza is gradually expanding into international markets. Deliveries will begin in Hong Kong later this month, and sales in Europe should start soon.