BYD has confirmed that its luxury brand, Denza, will make its India debut on 13 November 2026. According to an Autocar India report, the BYD luxury brand will start with two fully imported electric models which are expected to be the: the Denza Z9 GT shooting brake and the Denza D9 MPV. Both are expected to sit above the BYD range, with the prices being around ₹80 lakh.
What is confirmed, and what is not
The date is the only firm detail so far. Denza India announced its arrival on 2 October with a social media post carrying the line “Arriving soon” and a caption promising a premium, high-performance EV experience, but no model names, prices or dates. Multiple reports have suggested at an arrival date of November 13.
Everything else is expected rather than announced. BYD or Denza has has not confirmed the full line-up, prices or booking details. The Z9 GT and D9 come from Autocar India’s earlier exclusive reporting. India-spec details have not been announced, so the figures below should be read as global-spec numbers. Autocar India describes 13 November as a debut, and it is unclear whether prices or on-sale dates will be announced that day.
Z9 GT: the 1,156hp halo
The Z9 GT is expected to be Denza’s range-topper, at an estimated Rs 1.2 crore to Rs 1.5 crore (ex-showroom). It is a four-door electric shooting brake, a body style no other car in India offers. Globally the Z9 GT also comes as a plug-in hybrid, but Autocar Professional reports that India will get the all-electric version.
A 122.5kWh battery feeds three motors, which together make 1,156hp and drive all four wheels. The claimed numbers are 0-100kph in 2.7 seconds and a 270kph top speed, with 600km of WLTP range. Charging is rated at up to 1,500kW, enough for a 10 to 97 percent charge in nine minutes. Treat that as a ceiling. It needs ultra-high-power chargers, and how much of that speed an India-spec car can use here is an open question.
Two features stand out: Compass Turn 360°, which rotates the car on the spot, and a crab-walk mode that moves it sideways. They are party tricks, but they show what the platform can do. We are not sure if these features will be available in the Denza cars on launch in India. At this price the Z9 GT is likely to sell in small numbers.
D9: Denza’s answer to the Vellfire
The D9 is a luxury MPV that takes on the MG M9 and the Toyota Vellfire, with Kia Carnival, Lexus LM, and the Mercedes-Benz V Class also being close rivals. Autocar India expects it at around Rs 90 lakh (ex-showroom), though estimates vary: Business Today, citing Times Now, puts it closer to Rs 1 crore. Either way, it slots between the M9, which sells in the Rs 70-80 lakh band, and the Vellfire, which starts at Rs 1.20 crore.
It uses a 103kWh battery and a front-mounted motor making 313hp and 360Nm. WLTP range is 520km, and DC charging goes up to 200kW. Range figures vary between reports, too: Business Today quotes around 600km for the D9. The global-spec car is a three-row MPV measuring 5,250mm in length, with a 3,110mm wheelbase, according to Gaadiwaadi.
The real pitch is the rear cabin: electrically adjustable second-row captain’s chairs with heating, ventilation and massage, three-zone climate control, full leather upholstery and ambient lighting. This is a chauffeur-driven car, so the back seat will decide its fate far more than the spec sheet.
A big jump above BYD
BYD sells four models in India today, the BYD Atto 3, BYD eMAX 7, Seal and Sealion 7, priced from roughly ₹25 lakh to ₹55 lakh. Denza starts above ₹80 lakh, so it is not a step up but a separate tier, and the retail plan reflects that. According to a report in Business Today, Denza outlets are expected to operate separately from BYD’s current network. Passi Group’s Krishna Automobiles is expected to run them in the NCR and Chandigarh, the report said.
A separate network matters at this price, because buyers expect a different showroom and service experience. Furthermore, having just one sales and service network can potentially dillute either of the two brands. If it works, BYD ends up with two distinct identities in India: a mainstream-premium EV maker and a luxury EV maker.
Denza began as a joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz, and BYD has owned it outright since 2024. The joint venture sold only around 23,000 cars between 2011 and 2021, while total sales had passed 200,000 by September 2024, according to data. Denza is now a separate brand in markets like Southeast Asia, China, Australia, Europe, and Latin America.
Our Take
Denza is targeting the Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore luxury EV space, against brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus, Volvo, and Audi. Specs will not be the hard part. Brand value will. A Chinese badge at these prices has to win over buyers used to German and Japanese names, and that depends on service quality, resale confidence and network reach more than the product itself.
