A new all-electric vehicle unveiled at Auto China 2012 marks the first appearance of the Denza brand at a motor show. Denza, a joint venture between Daimler and China’s BYD Auto, was officially launched in March this year and its first concept car is expected to reach production by 2013, with the first prototypes already being tested on the roads in China.
The Denza all-electric car features rear-hinged rear doors, reclining rear seats and a "visually integrated" battery storage area which is claimed to succeed "better than most EVs at keeping the batteries out of passengers’ way.
There's no detail as yet on performance specs.
“We brought traditional Chinese elements forward into the next generation with a priority on ergonomic design and some futuristic innovations,” says BDNT CEO Lian Yubo.
The Denza EV will be built in China by the Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co., Ltd. (BDNT). This company was recently created as a 50-50 partnership between Daimler AG and BYD Auto Co. Ltd. The Chinese-based auto manufacturer BYD was first established in 2003 as a rechargeable battery maker, and is bringing its expertise in battery technology and e-drive systems to the venture.
The car will be produced exclusively for the Chinese market, and BDNT hopes that the Denza will expand the already growing number of EV vehicles in China, which according to the company, is expected to rise from its current figure of 10,000 to 5,000,000 by 2020.
Source: Daimler
