BYD marks 16 millionth NEV milestone as Denza D9 rolls off production-line
BYD announced on April 17 that its 16 millionth new energy vehicle has rolled off the production line, with the milestone unit identified as the first second-generation Denza D9 MPV.
Production milestone
The latest milestone reflects BYD’s continued scale expansion, with the company adding six million vehicles in under two years. The Denza brand, positioned above the core BYD lineup, is increasingly used to introduce newer technologies and higher-spec models.
2026 Denza D9 enters production
The 2026 Denza D9 recently began pre-sales in China, offering six variants across plug-in hybrid and battery-electric models. Pricing ranges from 389,800 to 489,800 yuan (53,800 to 67,600 USD), with identical pricing structures for both powertrains.
The model is equipped with BYD’s latest God’s Eye 5.0 intelligent driving assistance system across all variants. Denza also confirmed that existing D9 units equipped with earlier systems will receive a full over-the-air upgrade to the new version.
Charging and range upgrades
The updated D9 introduces BYD’s second-generation Blade Battery together with its flash-charging system. Under standard conditions, the battery can charge from 10% to 70% in about five minutes.
The battery electric version offers up to 800 km under CLTC conditions, while the plug-in hybrid variant provides approximately 400 km of electric-only range. The vehicle is based on an 800V-class platform designed to support high-power charging.
Positioning and platform
The D9 remains a full-size MPV, measuring 5250 mm in length, 1960 mm in width, and 1900 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3110 mm. It continues to serve as Denza’s core model in the premium MPV segment, where it competes with the Buick GL8 and Toyota Alphard in China.
A previous CarNewsChina report noted that Denza forms part of BYD’s broader push into higher-end segments, alongside newer models planned for overseas expansion.
Industry data context
Denza D9 domestic sales declined steadily through most of 2025, falling from around 9,000 units in April to roughly 4,000 units by November, before rebounding to about 8,400 units in December. In early 2026, deliveries dropped to approximately 2,800 units in January, then recovered to around 3,100 units in February and 4,300 units in March. The March figure indicates a partial rebound but remains below mid-2025 levels, according to China EV DataTracker.
Scaling strategy
The rollout of the second-generation D9 coincides with BYD’s broader deployment of flash-charging technology and updated battery systems across its lineup. The company continues to expand production capacity and its overseas presence, with Denza positioned as part of its premium offering in global markets.
