Denza EV / 400 / 500 History

The Denza EV was the first production model from the BYD–Daimler joint venture, going on sale in selected Chinese cities in December 2014. Built on a BYD platform with significant Daimler input on safety and quality standards, it was a five-seat compact crossover aimed squarely at urban Chinese buyers willing to pay a premium for an electric vehicle.

In 2018 the model was facelifted and renamed the Denza 500, denoting its approximately 500-kilometre NEDC range — a substantial step up from the original car's real-world range. An intermediate update had been called the Denza 400 in reference to its rated range. Sales remained modest throughout, constrained by the early-EV charging infrastructure in China and stiff competition from Tesla and domestic rivals.

The Denza 500 was discontinued in 2019, replaced in the lineup by the all-new Denza X. The original EV's role as a proof-of-concept was significant: it demonstrated that BYD and Daimler could develop a vehicle together and laid the groundwork for the more ambitious post-restructuring lineup that followed.