This BYD Chinese EV is 'terrifying European automakers' and here's why it's having such an impact
Published on Sep 08, 2026 at 5:41 AM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Sep 08, 2026 at 5:41 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Fenton
A new BYD Chinese EV is ‘terrifying European automakers’ as China continues to have a massive impact on the automotive world.
There is no denying that China is rapidly becoming a major player in the automotive world.
It is now the world’s largest car exporter, exporting more cars than the United States and Japan combined – showing just how far it has come in a short space of time.
A Bloomberg Television report has shed light on these developments, as well as on a particular new car from BYD: the Denza Z9GT luxury EV.
The BYD Denza Z9GT has European manufacturers worried
The Denza Z9GT was unveiled a few months ago in Paris, firming up BYD’s status as China’s biggest car company by sales.
BYD overtook Tesla for total car sales in 2023, becoming the top EV maker in the world.
Stella Li, BYD Group Executive Vice President, even said she saw no competition for its Denz Z9GT.
“With all the cool technology in this car, I do not see any competition here,” she said.
The long range of the BYD and the rapid five-minute charging times also have Western manufacturers worried.
If the new recharging technology is ever rolled out in Europe, BYD customers can say goodbye to 20-minute recharging times.
Factor in that the car has a Porsche-like design and Bugatti power levels, and it only gets more impressive.
Remember, they are also very cheap compared to many of their rivals.
How impressive is BYD’s Denza Z9GT?
Falling under its new premium brand, Denza, the Z9GT has been described as a ‘technical tour de force’ by some publications.
At its most powerful, the Z9GT has a tri-motor setup that produces 1,140hp.
That gives it a 0-62mph time of just 2.7 seconds and a top speed of 167mph.
Plus, there are some incredible technological innovations, such as the rear-wheel independent steering, which means the Z9GT can ‘crab walk’.
Thanks to the crazy fast charging, you can go from ten to 70 per cent battery in just five minutes.
A 20 to 97 per cent recharge would take just nine minutes, thanks to the BYD flash chargers.
Chinese manufacturers like BYD are here to stay
These manufacturers are here to stay, whether Western manufacturers like it or not.
Chinese exports of EVs have soared, even if they have had some challenges at home due to the competitive nature of the Chinese market.
Support from the Chinese government and alignment on plans have massively helped.
BYD appears to be going from strength to strength.
Some say that Western brands have been caught half-asleep by this and that they should have been more prepared.
It is no surprise that manufacturers outside of China are terrified by what might come next.
Maybe one day we will all be driving a Chinese electric car.
Chinese car companies timeline
1953: First Automobile Works (FAW) is established in Changchun with Soviet assistance
1956: The Jiefang CA10 truck rolls off the line as the country’s first mass-produced vehicle
1958: FAW introduces the Hongqi (Red Flag) luxury sedan for high-ranking government officials
1984: Beijing Jeep is established as the first automotive joint venture with a foreign manufacturer
1985: The Shanghai Volkswagen joint venture launches, modernizing passenger car production and supply chains
1997: Chery Automobile is founded, quickly growing into a major domestic brand and exporter
2001: Entry into the World Trade Organization rapidly accelerates local manufacturing and foreign investment
2009: The nation officially surpasses the United States to become the world’s largest automobile market
2010: Geely acquires the Swedish brand Volvo Cars, marking a major milestone for global expansion
2023: BYD overtakes Tesla in quarterly global sales, highlighting regional dominance in the electric vehicle market
Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a heritage steam railway.
