BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme sets world speed record at 503.17 km/h

BYD’s luxury sub-brand, Yangwang, has officially set a new world speed record with its Yangwang U9 Xtreme electric hypercar. During a high-speed challenge on a closed section of the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road in Abu Dhabi, the vehicle reached a top speed of 503.17 km/h. This achievement makes it the first production car to surpass the 500 km/h barrier, earning multiple Guinness World Records, including fastest production car and fastest electric production car.

The record-breaking run, led by German driver Marc Basseng, followed a period of intense testing and technical adjustments. Prior to this success, the U9 Xtreme had recorded 496.22 km/h at the Papenburg test track in Germany, surpassing the previous benchmark held by the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+.

The vehicle features a 1,200V ultra-high voltage platform and four electric motors producing approximately 3,000 horsepower. Despite the high-performance goals, the testing phase included a significant high-speed accident in China where a U9 Xtreme prototype lost control at approximately 450 km/h and struck a barrier. The impact caused severe structural damage to the body, but the driver, Jiang Wen, escaped uninjured due to the integrity of the carbon fiber monocoque cell.