BYD is accelerating the expansion of its plug-in hybrid lineup in Europe to cater to the rising demand for PHEVs among mainstream automakers. The company is introducing its premium Denza brand to the region, undeterred by growing geopolitical challenges.
During Brera Design Week in Milan on Wednesday, BYD revealed that its first model, the Z9GT under the Denza brand, will arrive in European showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2025. However, the company did not provide details about the pricing or exact delivery date of the vehicle. The Z9GT will be available in two variants: a battery-only model and a plug-in hybrid version.
BYD has already established its presence in Europe through its electric vehicle offerings. The company first launched the Denza brand in 2010 through a partnership with Daimler, now known as the Mercedes-Benz Group.
Until BYD’s first European factory in Hungary starts operations in the fourth quarter, all its vehicles will continue to be imported from China, giving plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) a notable tariff advantage, as they are exempt from the EU’s higher import tariffs.
Last year, the European Union imposed a 17% tariff on BYD’s battery electric vehicle imports, citing accusations of unfair production subsidies.
BYD’s Seal U DM-i, its first plug-in hybrid for Europe launched last year, has surpassed the sales of its full-electric counterpart, with 4,369 units sold through February, making up 32% of the company’s sales.
In the first quarter of the year, BYD sold over 206,000 cars outside China, doubling last year’s figure and reaching nearly half of its total overseas sales for 2024. BYD saw substantial growth in its international sales, setting a record of 986,098 new energy passenger vehicles sold in the first quarter. The company has entirely transitioned away from producing traditional fuel-powered cars.
The automaker also reported an 86% year-on-year increase in revenue, reaching 8.5 billion yuan ($1.2 billion), as disclosed in a filing on Tuesday.
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