YANGWANG U9 Xtreme Sets 496.22km/h EV Speed Record
YANGWANG, the luxury sub-brand of global new-energy vehicle leader BYD, set a new global production-car top-speed record of 496.22 km/h (308.4 mph) at the ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg track in Germany. The electric hypercar U9 Xtreme delivered the headline speed on 14 September 2025, establishing the world’s fastest production car and advancing the EV speed record while proving what sustainable performance can achieve.
YANGWANG’s latest U9 Xtreme, or U9X, achieved the feat by surpassing its own previous EV benchmark and eclipsing the 490.484 km/h (304.48 mph) maximum recorded by the quickest petrol-powered model. Engineers have created a modern milestone in electric mobility, blending extraordinary power and pace with zero tailpipe emissions, thereby reinforcing BYD and YANGWANG as leaders in high-performance electric cars.
Originally known as the U9 Track/Special Edition, the model is now officially named the YANGWANG U9 Xtreme. The team built upon the technical architecture of the U9, which is already on sale in China. It introduced key evolutions that unlock even greater performance for road-legal use and closed-course testing.
Engineers fitted an upgraded powertrain with 1,200 V ultra-high-voltage electrics, compared with 800 V in earlier iterations. The lithium-iron-phosphate Blade Battery delivers a remarkable 30C discharge rate for sustained power. Four ultra-high-speed motors spin up to 30,000 rpm and produce a combined output of more than 3,000 PS. Track-level semi-slick tyres maximise grip, while revised DiSus-X suspension gains specific tuning to handle the higher loads of circuit driving and prolonged high-speed runs.
BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li said, “This is an incredibly proud moment for everyone in the research and development division. YANGWANG is a brand that does not recognise the impossible, and only through this commitment to what’s coming next can you end up with a vehicle like the U9X. I extend my gratitude to the entire team and would like to thank the driver, Marc Basseng, for his exceptional skill and technical expertise. It’s terrific that the fastest production car in the world is now electric.”
German track specialist Marc Basseng drove the U9X for the record run, drawing on deep experience in sports-car racing and endurance motorsport. He said, “This record was only possible because the U9 Xtreme simply has incredible performance. Technically, something like this is not possible with a combustion engine. 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.”
YANGWANG has initiated a limited series production of the U9 Xtreme for customers, with a planned output of no more than 30 units. The name comes from the English word ‘Extreme’, meaning ‘limit’ and ‘ultimate’, with extra emphasis on the ‘X’, a nod to the unknown. The badge aligns with YANGWANG’s ethos of finding joy in exploration and the breakthroughs that follow.
By setting a new global speed record, YANGWANG redefines the sustainable hypercar and strengthens BYD’s reputation for innovation. The U9 Xtreme showcases how cutting-edge battery technology, high-voltage systems, advanced motors, purpose-designed tyres, and DiSus-X suspension can deliver unmatched performance, safety, and a compelling driving experience in an all-electric, road-going hypercar.
