Yangwang, the premium sub-brand of BYD, has set a new benchmark in automotive history with the U9 Xtreme. On September 14, 2025, the all-electric hypercar achieved a staggering 496.22km/h at the Automotive Testing Papenburg Track in Germany, officially becoming the world’s fastest production car.
Record-breaking performance
The U9 Xtreme not only beat its own previous EV speed record but also went faster than the 490.48km/h top speed of the previous record holder – the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport. This makes it the fastest production car in the world, showcasing the progress of advanced engineering in electric vehicles.
German racing driver Marc Basseng was behind the wheel for the record run and praised how stable and controlled the hypercar felt:
“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.”
Engineering for extremes
Originally developed as the U9 Track/Special Edition, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme (U9X) for series production, is built on the U9 already on sale in China with a raft of performance upgrades:
- 1200V ultra-high voltage system (up from 800V)
- 4 ultra-high-speed motors, each spinning up to 30,000 rpm and producing a combined 2206kW
- Lithium ion phosphate Blade battery with a 30C discharge rate
- Track-level semi-slick tyres engineered for extreme grip
- Revised Disus-X suspension tuned for high-speed stability
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Together, these innovations allow the U9X to handle stresses at near-aircraft speeds while delivering emissions-free performance.
A milestone for EV hypercars
BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li, hailed the achievement as a proud moment for Yangwang:
“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 whole team, and my thanks to the driver, Marc Basseng, for his skill and technical input. It’s terrific that the fastest production car in the world is now electric.”
Exclusive production
The Yangwang U9 Xtreme will be offered as a limited series of just 30 units, positioning it as both a collector’s item and a showcase of what electric mobility can achieve at the highest level. That’s the same production run as the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, the only other car to have officially crossed the 300mph speed milestone. However, that makes it rarer than the likes of the Koenigsegg Jesko or the Rimac Nevera, which are among the top brands that compete for the crown of speed.
However, in typical BYD fashion, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme is sure to be way more affordable than its multi-million dollar hypercar rivals. Given that the ‘standard’ U9 launched in China priced at the equivalent of around $360k, even at double the price, this will be a bargain hypercar.
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