BYD‘s electric hypercar, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme, reached 503.17 km/h (312.65 mph) in Abu Dhabi, setting a new production car speed record after a previous high-speed test ended in a violent crash.
The record attempt took place on November 1 on a closed section of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road, with German racing driver Marc Basseng behind the wheel. BYD announced the result on 6 November, becoming the first manufacturer to report a production car exceeding 500 km/h.
Full video: the Yangwang U9X public-road top-speed challenge in Abu Dhabi, start to finish. #YangwangU9X #BYD https://t.co/sQsyAk10Ul
— ThinkerCar (@thinkercar) November 6, 2026
What helped U9 Xtreme reach 503 km/h?
The U9 Xtreme produces nearly 3,000 horsepower from four electric motors capable of spinning at up to 30,000 rpm. It also uses BYD’s 1,200-volt electrical system and high-performance Blade Battery.
Engineers modified the car’s tyre pressures, suspension settings, and aerodynamics for the Abu Dhabi attempt in order to improve stability at high speeds.
The Abu Dhabi run earned Guinness World Records recognition, including titles for the fastest production car and fastest electric production car.
503.17km/h — Yangwang U9X top-speed challenge result is out on the Abu Dhabi road. #YangwangU9X #BYD https://t.co/pBeafIoczI
— ThinkerCar (@thinkercar) November 6, 2026
However, the 503.17 km/h figure represents a single-direction top speed, and not a two-way average. The SSC Tuatara retains the separate verified two-way production car speed record.
BYD plans to produce just 30 examples of the U9 Xtreme, making it one of the world’s most exclusive electric hypercars.
How the earlier test ended in a crash
BYD released footage of the accident in early November, showing the risks involved in pushing the electric hypercar towards the 500 km/h mark.
BYD hypercar crashes while attempting speed record beyond 500 km/h The Yangwang U9 Xtreme shattered into splinters, but the driver was unharmed China’s electric car holds the speed record at 496.22 km/h and was doing high-speed runs ahead of a planned 500 km/h attempt in Dubai https://t.co/GDTkjjm65F
— RTVisual (@RT_Visual_on_X) November 3, 2026
The team initially completed runs above 350 km/h and 420 km/h. During another attempt to exceed 450 km/h, the driver lost control and hit the guardrail.
The collision destroyed much of the vehicle’s front and rear sections, although its carbon-fibre passenger compartment remained intact. BYD said a subsequent hospital examination found no serious injuries.
Testing continued with another U9 Xtreme, which reached 457.89 km/h during a later run. The team then prepared for its next attempt in the United Arab Emirates.
