BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme breaks 500 km/h speed record in Abu Dhabi

The Yangwang U9 Xtreme, a high-performance electric hypercar from Chinese manufacturer BYD, achieved a speed of 503.17 km/h on November 1, 2026, during tests on the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed highway in Abu Dhabi, becoming the first production vehicle to exceed 500 km/h. The vehicle was driven by German racing driver Marc Basseng, who also set BYD's previous speed record of 496.22 km/h in September 2025 at ATP Papenburg in Germany. The new record surpassed the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, which reached 490.484 km/h in 2019.

Local authorities closed a 10-kilometer stretch of highway for the tests, with the longest straightaway measuring 7 kilometers. The vehicle achieved 490 km/h during initial attempts on October 31, after which the engineering team made adjustments to the suspension software, tire setup, and rear wing angle. The record run on November 1 followed these modifications and was completed after two days of preparation and testing.

The Yangwang U9 Xtreme is powered by four electric motors—one per wheel—delivering approximately 3,000 horsepower combined on a 1,200-volt electric platform. The vehicle accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.36 seconds and features an advanced adaptive suspension system, high-performance tires designed for extreme speeds, and aerodynamic enhancements. Production is limited to 30 units worldwide.

BYD announced that the vehicle has been recognized with two Guinness World Records: fastest production car in a single direction and fastest production electric car under the same conditions. The record was also verified by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The standard Yangwang U9 model, equipped with four motors producing approximately 1,300 horsepower, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.3 seconds, faster than the Ferrari SF90 Stradale's 2.5 seconds. The standard model also features a hydraulic suspension system capable of lifting the vehicle in 0.5 seconds and performing synchronized movements with music and lighting.