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BYD’s YangWang U9 Xtreme hit 496.22 km/h (308.4 mph) at Germany’s ATP Papenburg in September 2025. Driver Marc Basseng piloted the electric hypercar to what could become the fastest production car speed ever recorded.
From Zero to Lightning Speed
The quad-motor electric beast completed a single-direction run on Papenburg’s high-speed oval. This places it ahead of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ (490.48 km/h) and SSC Tuatara (officially 455.3 km/h) on paper, though the run hasn’t received official certification.
Guinness World Records and FIA require two-way averages on the same day to count as official records. YangWang hasn’t confirmed if opposite-direction runs were attempted.
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Voltage: The Secret Weapon
The U9 Xtreme runs a 1200V electrical system – far beyond the standard 800V architecture in the base model. Four motors spin to 30,000 rpm, delivering approximately 3,000 PS through YangWang’s torque vectoring system.
The car’s LFP Blade Battery can discharge at rates up to 30C, supporting extremely high current outputs without overheating. Semi-slick tires specially developed for near-500 km/h speeds keep the machine grounded.
BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li stated: “This is an incredibly proud moment for everyone in the research and development division. It’s terrific that the fastest production car in the world is now electric.”
Not Just Straight-Line Quick
The U9 already holds a 6:59.157 lap time at the Nürburgring according to BYD – reportedly the first Chinese car and first production EV under 7 minutes on the famous circuit. YangWang’s DiSus-X adaptive suspension received specific calibration for the high-speed run.
Exclusive Club: 30 Units Only
Production will be limited to 30 units globally. The standard YangWang U9 starts at approximately RMB 1.68 million (around $236,000) in China, with the Xtreme variant pricing still unannounced but expected higher.
The EV Speed Ladder
The 496.22 km/h run leaves other electric hypercars behind:
- Rimac Nevera: 412 km/h (256 mph)
- Aspark Owl: 400 km/h (249 mph) – claimed
The achievement further solidifies BYD’s competitive position against Tesla in the premium EV segment. According to BYD, the U9 Xtreme is now being made available to customers, though no specific delivery timeline has been announced.
Driver Marc Basseng commented: “This record was only possible because the U9 Xtreme simply has incredible performance. Thanks to the electric motor, the car is quiet, there are no load changes, and that allows me to focus even more on the track.”This U9 Xtreme record run positions the YangWang brand as a significant player in the growing Chinese EV market that continues to expand with high-performance offerings.
