YANGWANG U9 Sets 472.41 Km/h EV Speed Record in Germany
YANGWANG, BYD’s high-end sub-brand, set a new global electric vehicle top-speed record of 472.41 km/h at the ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg track in Germany on 8 August 2025. The latest U9 Track Edition achieved the run and now ranks as the world’s fastest EV.
The YANGWANG U9 Track Edition uses the same e4 Platform and DiSus-X core architecture as the U9 on sale in China, then adds the world’s first mass-produced 1200V ultra-high-voltage vehicle platform and a thermal-management system optimised for extreme conditions. This blend of proven hardware and breakthroughs lifts performance to unprecedented levels for an electric supercar.
To break records, the car must deliver relentless power and rock-solid high-speed stability. The e4 platform, the first quad-motor system with 30,000 rpm high-performance motors, provides a peak output of 555 kW per motor for a system total exceeding 3,000 PS. With a power-to-weight ratio of 1,217 PS per tonne, the U9 Track Edition competes at the very top of the global automotive field.
The platform’s quad-motor independent torque-vectoring system reads road feedback and adjusts wheel torque more than 100 times per second. At high speeds, it maintains precise body control and prevents wheel slip or traction loss, supporting confident, repeatable performance on road and track.
The DiSus-X Intelligent Body Control System makes rapid, independent vertical suspension adjustments at each corner under hard acceleration, heavy braking and aggressive cornering, and on uneven surfaces. It suppresses pitch and roll, boosts driver confidence and comfort, and actively optimises the tyre contact patch to maximise grip. Working in concert with the e4 platform, it provides twin safeguards for stability and driving safety.
Unlike traditional supercars, the YANGWANG U9 applies the innovative e4 Platform plus DiSus-X architecture to introduce body-posture control to racetrack scenarios, pushing the limits of safety and performance in track environments. The Track Edition retains the U9’s aerodynamic design. It offers an enhanced, optional carbon fibre front splitter already in mass production, which validates the car’s aero efficiency and technical reliability at ultra-high speed.
To withstand extreme loads, YANGWANG partnered with Giti Tire, building on data from extensive 2024 testing in Germany, to develop a track-focused semi-slick tyre. The tyre uses optimised compound materials and a bespoke tread design. At the same time, an innovative knurling treatment at the wheel-rim interface, combined with a high-viscosity lubricant, minimises relative slippage during hard launches or heavy braking. The approach reduces torque loss and tyre wear and improves predictability and stability during dynamic manoeuvres.
German professional driver Marc Basseng set the record. He also held the previous global EV speed mark in 2024, and after completing the high-speed test for YANGWANG, he said, “Last year, I thought I'd peaked. I never expected to break my own record so soon — but here we are, at the same track, with new technologies that have made it possible.”
By establishing a new global EV speed record, YANGWANG redefines the sustainable supercar. Backed by BYD’s innovation and sustainability commitments, the brand applies cutting-edge electric powertrain technology to deliver exceptional performance, safety and driving experience.
