What happened with Denza and Chopard’s EV?

Denza and Chopard’s one-off EV that sold for $815,000

BYD’s premium sub-brand Denza and luxury jeweler Chopard teamed up to create a custom, jewelry-clad EV that was auctioned off at the Cannes amfAR charity gala.

The deal and the price

• Denza used its Z9GT as the base for a one-of-a-kind vehicle.
• Chopard contributed the luxury finishing—described as sparkling/jewelry-clad—turning the car into a high-end collectible rather than a mass-market product.
• The vehicle ultimately sold for $815,000 USD at auction during the event in Cannes.

Why this matters

This is a clear signal that the luxury world is continuing to merge with electrification in an attention-driven way. Instead of presenting an EV primarily through engineering metrics, the collaboration emphasized brand prestige and visual impact, which is common in charity auctions where rarity and spectacle can drive bidding.

It also reflects a trend where automakers with tech-forward reputations seek credibility in luxury circles through partnerships outside the traditional auto supply chain—here, with a top-tier jewelry house.

For consumers, the practical takeaway may be limited—this was explicitly a one-off—but the headline is meaningful: EVs are increasingly being treated as luxury display objects and cultural moments, not just transportation.