腾势Denza

Who owns Denza? The ownership chain, BYD's stake and the 2024 deal

Facts checked

Denza is Chinese and is run by BYD. It began as a joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz and is now listed as a BYD brand, positioned above the BYD badge as a premium line of MPVs and SUVs. Mercedes-Benz's exact residual holding, if any, is not recorded here.

BYD has owned Denza outright since Mercedes-Benz came off the shareholder register on 14 September 2024. It had held 50% from 2010 and 90% from 2022.

The short answer

Controlled by BYD
Stake100%
Since14 September 2024
Kindbrand
OriginCN
Name in Chinese 腾势 Téngshì “tung-SHIR”
Top of the chainLü Xiangyang
Is it Chinese? Yes

The chain, step by step

  1. Lü Xiangyang holds a stake in BYD since February 1995.

    Wang Chuanfu's cousin, BYD's co-founder and early financial backer; he has held BYD shares through Guangzhou Rongjie Investment. The current percentage was not verified.

  2. BYD owns Denza at 100% since 14 September 2024.

    BYD has owned Denza outright since Mercedes-Benz came off the shareholder register on 14 September 2024. It had held 50% from 2010 and 90% from 2022.

Former owners

Holdings that have ended. They are here because the story needs them and are never part of the current tree.

  1. Mercedes-Benz Group AG formerly held Denza at 50% from 27 May 2010 until 2022.

    Daimler and BYD founded Shenzhen Denza New Energy Automotive as an equal joint venture on 27 May 2010. BYD signed an equity transfer agreement in January 2022 that reduced Daimler's successor, Mercedes-Benz Group, to 10%; the deal closed in mid-2022.

  2. Mercedes-Benz Group AG formerly held Denza at 10% from 2022 until 14 September 2024.

    Mercedes-Benz kept a 10% residual holding in Denza after the 2022 transfer and disposed of it in 2024; the corporate register showed it off the shareholder list on 14 September 2024 and a Mercedes executive removed from the board.

Every holding above this entity, with the stake and the date it began.
Holder Holds Kind Stake Since
Lü Xiangyang BYD holds a stake in not published February 1995
BYD Denza owns 100% 14 September 2024

Denza: questions people ask

Does Mercedes-Benz still own part of Denza?
No. Mercedes-Benz cut its holding from 50% to 10% in 2022 and left completely in September 2024. BYD owns 100% of Denza and current Denza models use no Mercedes-Benz technology.
Who owns Denza?
BYD, outright, since September 2024.
What does Denza mean?
The Chinese name is 腾势 (Téngshì) — 'to soar' plus 'momentum'. Denza is a coined English name, not a translation.
Is the Denza B5 the same as the Fangchengbao Bao 5?
Yes. BYD sells several Fangchengbao models abroad under the Denza badge; the Bao 5 becomes the Denza B5 and the Bao 8 the Denza B8.

Related

Sources for Denza

  1. Wikipedia, Denza. Read . Founding dates, first car, model range, export markets and the Milan launch
  2. CnEVPost, BYD now holds 100% of Denza as Mercedes exits. Read . The 14 September 2024 register change and the January 2022 step to 90%
  3. CarNewsChina, BYD's Fang Cheng Bao Bao 5 to be sold overseas as Denza B5. Read . Export rebadging of Fangchengbao models as Denza
  4. electrive, Mercedes-Benz exits Denza completely. Read . Independent confirmation of the July/September 2024 exit
  5. Wikipedia, List of automobile manufacturers of China. Read . Denza listed as a BYD Auto brand.
  6. Wikipedia, BYD Company. Read .