Chinese electric vehicle (EV) assembler BYD has set its sights on Porsche’s supercars with plans to sell its Denza-branded new models in developed markets, the latest sign of its increasing heft in designing and manufacturing premium vehicles.
The Shenzhen-based carmaker planned to unveil the Denza Z sports car featuring BYD’s self-developed intelligent DiSus body control system at the UK’s Goodwood Festival of Speed on Thursday, it announced in a statement.
The European debut of the sports car, which aims to take on Porsche’s 911, is part of BYD’s efforts to spur sales outside mainland China by launching more models and expanding its distribution network.
“A vehicle to lure international consumers away from global marques like Porsche can help BYD convince more overseas drivers of its quality and reliability,” said Eric Han, a senior manager at Shanghai consultancy Suolei. “The energy crisis due to the war in Iran is providing Chinese EV makers with a catalyst for international expansion.”
BYD claims its DiSus system can keep passengers firmly in place during high-speed cornering and prevents the vehicle from rolling over.
The two-door Denza Z is fitted with BYD’s blade battery packs, which are arranged in an array to increase energy density and resistance to overheating.
