As indicated last month, BYD is bringing its Denza luxury brand to Malaysia, the move to do so now cemented with the appointment of Sime Darby Auto Imports as the official importer and BYD Malaysia as the official distributor for Denza products in the country. The deal was inked earlier today by the two parties and BYD Auto Industry.
The Chinese manufacturer said that it aims to provide Malaysians a more diverse, innovative and premium EV experience through Denza. “We are excited to partner with Sime Darby Auto Imports to bring Denza to the Malaysian market, marking a significant milestone for BYD in our journey to expand our electric vehicle offerings in Southeast Asia,” said BYD’s general manager of Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division, Liu Xueliang.
“Being at the forefront of innovation, we are proud to bring our advanced EV technology to Malaysia where the appetite for sustainable mobility continues to grow. With Denza, we will be able to offer our customers a better experience through our premium technology and features within the EV industry. We believe Denza will redefine the premium EV experience and set new standards for Malaysian drivers,” he added.
Dennis Ho, MD of assembly and strategic businesses at Sime Darby Motors, said the official signing marked a momentous milestone for the company in its partnership with BYD. “Through this, we look forward to forge a stronger partnership with BYD, expanding our presence in the EV market while diversifying Sime Darby’s EV portfolio. We are committed to a pivotal role in accelerating the growth of electric vehicles in Malaysia and we believe that bringing in Denza will be a significant part of this journey,” he said.
While there was no specific mention of products, the all-electric path will lead the way in, as intimated bu the automaker when it said that it is looking to bring a new dimension to Malaysia’s EV market with products that would offer premium cutting-edge technology, features and driving experience. The vehicle likely to debut the brand here will be the Denza D9 MPV, sometime in the first quarter of 2025.
First introduced in 2022, the right-hand-drive version of the Denza D9 in its all-electric form was launched in Hong Kong in June this year, and an example was then sighted in Malaysia in July. Although available with battery-electric and plug-in hybrid powertrains, the fully-electric version of the D9 will be the expected debutant for the brand in Malaysia. There is however no indication yet as to whether it will arrive in two-wheel drive or AWD form.
The base specification for the Denza D9 EV features a front-mounted electric motor producing 313 PS and 360 Nm of torque, enabling a 0-100 km/h time of 9.5 seconds and up to 620 km of range based on the generous CLTC testing standard.
The AWD variant of the D9 EV add a 61 PS/110 Nm rear motor for a combined output of 374 PS and 470 Nm, enabling 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds, but with a slightly reduced range at 600 km. THe MPV features a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with a capacity of 103 kWh, and supports DC fast charging at up to 166 kW.
The D9 is also sold with a DM-i plug-in hybrid powertrain, which consists of a 139 PS/231 Nm 1.5 litre turbocharged inline-four cylinder petrol engine paired with a 231 PS/340 Nm electric motor, with AWD versions of the PHEV also adding a 61 PS/110 Nm rear motor. Despite having stated that its PHEVs are coming, the hybrid D9 is unlikely to be one of them, at least not in the immediate term, given the lack of tax incentives for it.
GALLERY: Denza D9 EV at the 2023 Bangkok International Motor Show
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