In markets like China and Japan, luxurious people movers are popular, particularly as executive transport. But while these vehicles are dramatically less popular in Australia, yet another brand is planning to introduce one Down Under.
The Denza D9 has appeared in Australian Government certification documents, paving the way for its local introduction by BYD’s premium brand.
The electric people mover will square off directly against the electric Zeekr 009 and LDV MIFA 9 and, perhaps more indirectly, against the plug-in hybrid GAC M8.
While Denza hasn’t officially announced the D9 for our market, CarExpert understands there’ll be considerable expansion of the fledgling brand’s lineup in 2026.
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The government approval documents list a pair of powertrains for the D9: a single-motor front-wheel drive one with 230kW of power and a 275kW dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain, featuring the same 230kW front electric motor but a 45kW rear motor.
While the battery capacity isn’t listed in these documents, a look at the D9’s Chinese spec sheet reveals electric versions are powered by a large 103.36kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and offer up to 620km of range – albeit on the more lenient CLTC cycle.
Not featured in these documents is the D9’s available plug-in hybrid powertrain, which mates a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 40.06kWh LFP battery, an e-CVT and an electric motor for total system outputs of 299kW and 681Nm.
Tare mass figures for the electric D9s are 2764kg and 2865kg, respectively, with both variants featuring seven seats.
The D9 measures 5250mm long, 1960mm wide and 1920mm tall on a 3110mm wheelbase, making it 95mm longer and over 100mm taller but 35mm narrower than a Kia Carnival on a 10mm longer wheelbase.
The luxurious people mover entered production in 2022, before a related BYD-badged cousin – the Xia – was launched this year.
There’s a range of D9s offered in China, including posh Supreme and four-seat Pioneer editions.
Inside the luxury people mover, there’s a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, an available 10.25-inch passenger touchscreen, and a 12-inch head-up display.
Step into the second row and there are 10-way power-adjustable, heated, ventilated and massaging captain’s chairs with footrests, plus touchscreens on each front seatback and a 7.5L refrigerator. The third row features a three-seat bench with four-way power adjustment.
The Pioneer Edition ups the ante, ditching the third row entirely in favour of a palatial second row featuring a divider from the front row with an integrated 32-inch screen.
Given this four-seat configuration doesn’t appear in Australian Government approval documents, those seeking such second-row sumptuousness will need to step up to the Lexus LM500h Ultra Luxury.
Thus far, Denza has confirmed only two models for Australia: the large B5 and B8 plug-in hybrid off-road SUVs, both of which are due to arrive here in December.
In China, Denza – which was established as a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz before the German brand exited – offers a wide range of models.
There’s the sleek, coupe-style N7 large electric SUV; the Porsche Taycan-rivalling Z9 sedan and Z9 GT wagon, offered as either PHEVs or EVs; and the full-size N8L and N9 plug-in hybrid SUVs that confusingly appear to overlap with each other and feature similar styling.
The B5 and B8 coming to Australia aren’t actually sold as Denzas in China, but rather as Fangchengbao models. Denza will be used as the export brand for vehicles from this marque, and likely for vehicles from the Yangwang luxury brand too.
Denza also plans to launch a sports car, previewed by this year’s Z concept.
To the end of October, people mover sales are up by 7.1 per cent year-to-date in Australia. Nevertheless, they only accounted for 12,212 sales overall, with a whopping 73.4 per cent of those sales belonging to the Kia Carnival.
GAC’s M8 has only just gone on sale, while LDV has delivered just three MIFA 9s this year and Zeekr has delivered 104 examples of its plush 009.
The Xpeng X9 will join the growing throng of Chinese luxury people movers next year.
It’s possible these Chinese brands are introducing people movers here not as volume-sellers but rather as flagship or ‘halo’ vehicles, given they’re the most luxurious models they offer.
