Denza announced a few hours after the launch that the D9 MPV received more than 3,000 orders within 30 minutes of the start of pre-sales.

(Image credit: Denza)

After months of warm-up, the first MPV model of Denza, a joint venture between (OTCMKTS: BYDDY, HKG: 1211) and Mercedes-Benz Group - previously known as Daimler AG, has finally started pre-sale.

Denza announced the opening of the D9 MPV for pre-sale at a launch event on May 16, with a starting price of RMB 335,000 ($49,450).

The model appears to have received a good initial reception, with Denza announcing a few hours after the launch that the D9 MPV received more than 3,000 orders within 30 minutes of the start of the pre-sale.

Like the power forms used by BYD's existing models, Denza offers two power options for the D9 MPV - a version with BYD's signature DM-i super hybrid technology, and an all-electric version.

The hybrid version of the Denza D9 offers four options with battery ranges of 50 km, 190 km, 180 km and 180 km and NEDC ranges of 945 km, 1,040 km, 970 km and 970 km, respectively, and a price range of RMB 335,000 - 445,000 yuan.

The all-electric version of the Denza D9 offers two options, both with CLTC ranges of over 600 km, with pre-sale starting prices of RMB 390,000 and 460,000 respectively.

In addition to these two regular models, Denza also offers a founder's version of the D9 for RMB 660,000, but limited to only 99 units.

The Denza D9 is a mid-size premium new energy MPV with a length, width and height of 5,250 mm, 1,960 mm and 1,920 mm respectively, and a wheelbase of 3,110 mm.

The hybrid version uses BYD's 1.5T Xiaoyun engine and consumes as little as 5.9 L per 100 km on low charge. It supports 80 kW DC fast charging with a charging time of 25 minutes from 30 percent to 80 percent.

Its pure electric version is based on BYD's e-platform 3.0, with an 8-in-1 electric powertrain, and BYD's blade battery. It can get 150 km range in 10 minutes of charging and 30 minutes of 30 percent-80 percent charging time.

The interior of the Denza D9 continues the usual BYD style with a 17.3-inch suspended center screen and 10.25-inch embedded LCD instrument cluster. It is also equipped with Link interactive system, Danner audio, HUD head-up display and other features.

Denza is a joint venture established in February 2011 by BYD and Daimler, with each holding a 50 percent stake, the first Sino-foreign joint venture in China to focus on new energy vehicles (NEVs). In February 2022, the Daimler brand was rebranded as Mercedes-Benz.

In an announcement at the end of January 24 this year, BYD said it and Daimler would increase their capital in Denza by RMB 1 billion each in monetary terms, and that the capital increase would not change the current shareholding ratio between the two.

In a separate announcement on January 24, BYD said it signed an equity transfer agreement with Daimler for Denza, which will increase BYD's stake in the company to 90 percent and reduce Daimler's stake to 10 percent.

The move, which will be subject to regulatory approval, is expected to be completed by mid-2022.

Monday's launch of the Denza D9 was also the launch of the Denza brand update, which saw the company's visual identity, branding system and core values refreshed.

Denza also announced plans to release three new vehicles within a year and offer more new energy luxury models over the next three years.