BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme breaks 500 kph barrier with new world speed recordBYD’s Yangwang U9 Xtreme has become the first production car to exceed 500 kph, reaching 503.17 kph during a record attempt on a closed public road in Abu Dhabi on Nov 1.
The achievement earned two Guinness World Records for the highest speed attained by a production car and an electric production car in a single-direction run.
The result was also officially recognised by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).
German racing driver Marc Basseng was behind the wheel, having previously driven the electric hypercar to 496.22 kph at Germany’s ATP Papenburg proving ground in September 2025.
The latest attempt took place on Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra Region, where authorities closed a 10 km stretch of highway, including a seven-kilometre straight.
Two runs on Oct 31 produced a maximum speed of 490 kph. Engineers subsequently adjusted the rear wing, suspension rebound settings and tyre pressures to improve stability over the road’s uneven sections.
Two further attempts followed on Nov 1, with the final run producing the record speed.
The achievement came after a serious crash involving another U9 Xtreme during earlier high-speed testing in China.
BYD test driver Jiang Wen lost control while conducting a run targeting 420–450 kph. The car reportedly struck a guardrail at around 360 kph before crossing the road and hitting the opposite barrier.
The vehicle sustained extensive damage, but Jiang escaped serious injury, according to Yangwang’s account of the incident.
The U9 Xtreme uses four electric motors producing a combined 2,220 kW (3,019 PS), more than double the output of the standard U9.
Its 1,200V electrical architecture works with an upgraded lithium iron phosphate Blade Battery capable of a claimed 30C discharge rate. The four motors can each spin at up to 30,000 rpm.
Other developments include independent torque vectoring, DiSus-X active suspension and specially developed Giti semi-slick tyres intended to withstand extreme speeds.
The car also holds the production-electric-vehicle lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, completing the circuit in 6 minutes 59.157 seconds.
Yangwang plans to build just 30 U9 Xtreme units worldwide. Some customers have approved their individual specifications, with contracts and production scheduling now progressing.
