BYD Opens Zhengzhou All-Terrain NEV Circuit With Record Dune
BYD has officially opened its all-terrain circuit in Zhengzhou, among the first in China explicitly built for New Energy Vehicles, and confirmed plans for several more. The Zhengzhou facility embodies BYD’s Technology for All concept. It serves as a venue for track racing, professional driver training and immersive circuit experiences to grow NEV culture and electric vehicle enthusiasm.
Visitors explore eight experience zones in one location: Indoor Sand Dune, Low-Friction Ring, Kick-Plate, Wading Pool, Dynamic Paddock, Race Track, Off-Road Park and Camping Area. BYD has designed the layout to deliver a distinctive, multi-scenario drive that differs from a conventional single-track circuit.
Guinness World Records has certified the Zhengzhou indoor dune, which features a 29.6-metre vertical drop and a 28-degree slope, as the highest and largest dune-climbing facility for car testing. Engineers used 6,200 tonnes of sand to mirror the granular mix of the Alxa Desert, creating an authentic dune-bashing experience that showcases NEV capability.
BYD designed the 70-metre water-crossing pool exclusively for the YANGWANG U8. Through underwater observation glass, visitors watch the vehicle move forward, turn or reverse in water under the control of the e4 platform, which redefines safety standards in extreme driving scenarios and highlights advanced electric vehicle engineering.
The circuit also demonstrates NEV safety technologies in action. The Kick-Plate simulates icy roads with a wet, polished cement surface; its movable suction plates provoke a controlled loss of traction so drivers can practise emergency responses with confidence.
China’s first 44-metre-diameter Low Friction Circle uses 30,000 smooth basalt bricks and a 3 mm water covering to maintain a consistent friction coefficient between that of ice and snow. Drivers can achieve stable drifting thanks to BYD’s millisecond-level electronic control response and intelligent body control systems, bringing the thrill of precision handling to everyone.
The 1,758-metre race track includes nine curves and a 550-metre straight. Drivers feel instant acceleration on the straight and test steering precision through demanding corners, making it a compelling showcase for NEV performance and chassis tuning.
A 15,300-square-metre dynamic paddock offers more than a dozen scenarios, including standard slalom, moose testing and automated parking, to demonstrate the breadth of BYD’s intelligent technology and driver-assistance features in real use.
Twenty-seven off-road scenarios, from beginner to advanced, broaden access to off-road fun. Even an urban SUV can tackle entry-level terrain with intelligent all-wheel drive, allowing more people to experience NEV off-road capability.
BYD will add two further circuits in Hefei and Shaoxing. The Shaoxing site includes an off-road area covering 2,000 acres at an altitude of 500 metres, expanding opportunities for NEV testing and outdoor experiences.
BYD and the Federation of Automobile and Motorcycle Sports of China have launched the New Track Scheme to introduce racing culture to more people, targeting 1 million users and nurturing 100 professional racers. “BYD Circuits will accelerate the professionalisation of China's NEV racing events and reshape China's automotive culture,” said Guojun Zhan, the president of CAMF.
These all-terrain BYD circuits do more than add new venues; they reimagine the NEV driving experience. By making cutting-edge technologies, professional facilities and extreme scenarios tangible and accessible, they lower barriers to entry, showcase NEV innovation and build a wider bridge to popularise NEV culture across China.
