In markets such as China and Japan, luxury people movers are enjoying great popularity, particularly as transportation for executives. But while these vehicles are significantly less popular in Australia, another brand is planning to introduce one down under.
The Denza D9 is included in Australian Government certification documents, paving the way for local launch by premium brand BYD.
The electric people mover will compete directly against the electric Zeekr 009 and LDV MIFA 9 and, perhaps more indirectly, against the plug-in hybrid GAC M8.
Although Denza has not yet officially announced the D9 for our market, Daily Sparkz assumes that the young brand’s range will be significantly expanded in 2026.
With Daily Sparkz you can save thousands on a new car. Click Here to get a great deal.
Government approval documents list two powertrains for the D9: a single-motor front-wheel drive with 230kW of power and a 275kW dual-motor all-wheel drivetrain that has the same 230kW electric motor at the front but a 45kW rear motor.
While battery capacity is not listed in these documents, a look at the D9’s Chinese spec sheet shows that the electric versions are powered by a large 103.36 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and offer a range of up to 620 km – albeit on the milder CLTC cycle.
Not listed in these documents is the D9’s available plug-in hybrid powertrain, which combines a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 40.06kWh LFP battery, E-CVT and electric motor, giving a total system output of 299kW and 681Nm.
The curb weight figures for the electric D9 are 2764 kg and 2865 kg respectively, with both variants having seven seats.
The D9 is 5250mm long, 1960mm wide and 1920mm high with a wheelbase of 3110mm. This makes it 95mm longer and over 100mm higher, but 35mm narrower than a Kia Carnival with a 10mm longer wheelbase.
The luxury people mover entered production in 2022, before a related BYD-badged cousin – the Xia – was launched this year.
A range of D9s are offered in China, including the posh Supreme and four-seat Pioneer editions.
Inside the luxury people carrier is a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, an optional 10.25-inch passenger touchscreen and a 12-inch head-up display.
Climb into the second row and you’ll find 10-way power-adjustable, heated, ventilated and massaging captain’s chairs with footrests, as well as touchscreens on each front seatback and a 7.5-liter refrigerator. In the third row there is a three-seat bench with four-way electrical adjustment.
The Pioneer Edition goes one step further, foregoing the third row entirely in favor of a palatial second row with a partition to the first row and an integrated 32-inch screen.
Since this four-seat configuration is not included in the Australian government’s registration documents, those seeking such second-row luxury equipment will have to turn to the Lexus LM500h Ultra Luxury.
So far, Denza has only confirmed two models for Australia: the large plug-in hybrid SUVs B5 and B8, both of which are due to arrive here in December.
In China, Denza – which was founded as a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz before the German brand’s exit – offers a wide range of models.
There’s the elegant, large, coupe-style electric SUV N7; the Porsche Taycan-competing Z9 sedan and Z9 GT wagon, offered as either a PHEV or an electric vehicle; and the N8L and N9 full-size plug-in hybrid SUVs, which confusingly appear to overlap and share similar styling.
The B5 and B8 coming to Australia will actually not be sold as Denzas in China, but as Fangchengbao models. Denza will be used as an export brand for vehicles of this brand and is also expected to be used for luxury brand Yangwang vehicles.
Denza also plans to introduce a sports car, which will be featured in this year’s Z concept.
Through the end of October, people mover sales in Australia were up 7.1 percent year-to-date. Still, they only accounted for a total of 12,212 sales, with the Kia Carnival accounting for a whopping 73.4 percent of those sales.
GAC’s M8 has just gone on sale, while LDV has only delivered three MIFA 9s this year and Zeekr has delivered 104 examples of its plush 009 model.
The Xpeng X9 will join the growing ranks of Chinese luxury people movers next year.
It’s possible that these Chinese brands are introducing people movers here not as volume sellers, but rather as flagship or “halo” vehicles, as these are the most luxurious models they offer.
MORE: Test report on the BYD Denza D9 2025: Fast ride
