When asked which car she recommends to women, BYD executive vice president Stella Li points to the Denza B5, describing the 4x4 as a vehicle that offers control and safety. "When you lead this car, you feel like a queen; you control your destiny," Li says. Her point is clear: the B5 is built to allow.
Li’s recommendation goes beyond a marketing line. In a business where women rarely reach the top, her words carry weight. She points to the B5’s off-road chops and advanced safety tech. Its smart systems and tough build are designed to protect drivers and boost confidence, especially for young women. "You can play with it. Our software protects people, and the hardware, like the off-road chassis, makes it super safe," Li explains.
Li backs up her confidence with details. The Denza B5, called Fang Cheng Bao 5 in China, sits on a ladder-frame chassis. It has full-time all-wheel lead and electronic differential locks. Top versions also get hydraulic suspension that lifts the car higher off the ground. The European model uses a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine and two electric motors, one for each axle. Together, they deliver 544 CV. The B5 can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. Its plug-in hybrid system provides up to 90 km of electric range (WLTP) from a 31.8 kWh LFP battery.
Performance is only part of the story. Li points to the B5’s stability in tough situations, such as a tire blowout at high speed. "If you’re driving at 180 km/h and a tire explodes, the chassis control system ensures you can keep going safely. That’s what our 120,000 engineers think about every day, how to make the car safer and easier to use," she says.
Li’s rise stands out in a male-dominated field. She joins a small but growing group of women leading major car brands, including Mary Barra at General Motors and Linda Jackson at Peugeot. For Li, the future of women in the industry is tied to electric vehicles and artificial intelligence. Her advice is blunt: "Young women should have great self-confidence and never give up; they should choose work they love and dedicate themselves, success will follow." She believes the shift to clean, tech-driven cars will open doors for women. The old barriers of dirty workshops and tough environments are fading.
The Denza B5 is set to take on big names in Europe, including the Toyota Land Cruiser and Land Rover Defender, with the Ford Bronco also in the field. It is nearly five metres long, with a 2.8-metre wheelbase and classic, squared-off looks. The B5 is a serious contender in the premium SUV market, combining tough engineering and smart tech for drivers seeking adventure and peace of mind.
Competition in electric SUVs is intensifying. BYD’s approach stands apart from brands scrambling to recover, as seen in the recent Geely update. Li’s strategy is straightforward: she leads with confidence and targets drivers often ignored by traditional carmakers.
Li’s push for the Denza B5 reflects her view that the car world is finally listening to women. Her message is clear: safety and technology are must-haves for everyone. As BYD moves deeper into Europe, the industry should watch the people shaping its future from the inside.
