First Denza electric vehicle surfaces at Auto China 2012

First Denza electric vehicle surfaces at Auto China 2012

Hot on the trail of electric vehicle brands like Fisker Automotive and Tesla Motors is newcomer Denza, the result of a 50:50 joint venture between China’s BYD and Mercedes’ parent company Daimler. You see here the first product of their alliance – a cool blue fellow that appears to not have a name.

Underpinning it is the first-gen Mercedes B-Class platform – a flat floor platform originally designed to house batteries. Daimler take care of the styling, body and chassis while BYD focus on the electric powertrain (BYD used to supply lithium-ion batteries to mobile phone companies, and its E6 model is currently undergoing testing as taxis in Shenzhen).

First Denza electric vehicle surfaces at Auto China 2012

The NEV’s powertrain is borrowed from the E6, which means its shares the same advanced lithium-ion phosphate battery that allows a 300 km range. Other numbers are unclear, but the E6 taxis in Shenzhen are reported to charge fully in 20 to 30 minutes without deterioration of battery health, and max out at 140 km/h.

Denza’s target market is the increasingly urban and open-minded Chinese middle-class. The company aims to be a premium brand of alternative-energy vehicles.

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Jonathan James Tan

While most dream of the future, Jonathan Tan dreams of the past, although he's never been there. Fantasises much too often about cruising down Treacher Road (Jalan Sultan Ismail) in a Triumph Stag that actually works, and hopes this stint here will snap him back to present reality.

 

Comments

  • moron on Apr 25, 2012 at 5:39 pm

    huh.. the front light!!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • China Low Quality Cars on Apr 26, 2012 at 9:16 am

      I would not dare to buy any product from China that deals with batteries. We all know that China batteries have the tendency to explode.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 3
  • At first I mistook it for a smaller Passat CC. lol

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • sleepwalkerz on Apr 25, 2012 at 6:12 pm

    waaa….soooo beautiful….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • AnakSarawak on Apr 25, 2012 at 8:00 pm

    Now here comes the CHINESE…A force to be reckoned with in a few years to come!!!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • the model in white dress is so beautiful! :) i hope my office has more ladies like this :(

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Jason on Apr 25, 2012 at 10:22 pm

    Speak about the electric car, Nissan are launching it at Malaysia!
    http://nissan.com.my/newsletters/jtze/images/debbie_emailer_01.jpg

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Whynot on Apr 25, 2012 at 11:08 pm

    Wondering, how long do we still need to test our EV in Putrajaya? Better be quick, businesses wait for no one!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Get ur fact right.. It’s the business that are not ready to market the car for Msia.. Test bed is to see how msian react towards EV. Only then they will convince their principal to bring EV into Msia market. The marketing strategies also will change as they will check your suitability of using EV before selling it to you.. :-)

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • no flash on Apr 25, 2012 at 11:39 pm

    that preve!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Paul Tan on Apr 26, 2012 at 12:38 am

    This is funny. Not the first time someone took that generation of B-Class (well, a knock off version in this case) and added a boot.

    http://paultan.org/2010/08/06/beijing-auto-adds-boot-to-merc-b-class-knock-off/

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • how much is this BYD sold in China, Mr Pal Tan? What’s the warranty policy like?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • orange on Apr 26, 2012 at 7:27 am

    if this a production design then it gonna be my first China made car !

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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