BYD Co (HKG:1211, LSE:0HKY, OTCQX:BYDDY), China’s largest electric carmaker, is pressing ahead with its European expansion despite growing trade tensions between Beijing and Brussels.
The company has announced that its premium Denza brand will launch in the region, starting with the Z9GT, a large estate-style model available in battery-electric and plug-in hybrid versions. It is expected to reach showrooms in late 2025.
BYD initially launched Denza in partnership with Daimler in 2010, though the German group now holds only a small stake. A second European model, the seven-seat D9, is also in the pipeline.
The move comes as the EU maintains tariffs of 17% on BYD electric vehicle imports, citing unfair subsidies.
Nevertheless, BYD’s overseas sales have surged, doubling in the first quarter of 2025 to over 206,000 vehicles. The company also outsold Tesla in battery-only car sales during the same period.