BYD’s Electric Hypercar Reaches 503.17 km/h to Become World’s Fastest Production Car
BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme Becomes First Production Car to Cross 500 km/h Speed Barrier
BYD’s ultra-luxury Yangwang brand has achieved a major milestone in automotive history as its U9 Xtreme electric hypercar reached a top speed of 503.17 km/h in Abu Dhabi on November 1, 2026.
According to the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the limited-production electric vehicle is the first production car to surpass the 500 km/h speed barrier. The achievement further strengthens BYD’s position in the high-performance electric vehicle segment.
Yangwang U9 Xtreme Sets 503.17 km/h Speed Record in Abu Dhabi
German racing driver Marc Basseng drove the U9 Xtreme during the record-breaking run on a closed section of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road (E11) in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region.
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The vehicle had reached a top speed of 490 km/h during an earlier attempt on October 31. Following that run, engineers adjusted the car’s aerodynamics, suspension settings and tire pressures overnight.
The modifications helped the electric hypercar achieve its record speed of 503.17 km/h during the subsequent attempt on November 1.
Guinness World Records Recognises Electric Hypercar Achievement
The record was also recognised by Guinness World Records as the highest single-direction speed achieved by a production car and an electric production car.
The latest achievement builds on the U9 Xtreme’s previous performance milestones. In August 2025, the vehicle recorded a top speed of 472.41 km/h before reaching 496.22 km/h at Germany’s ATP Papenburg proving ground in September 2025.
The model also made headlines after completing the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit in 6 minutes and 59.157 seconds, becoming the first production electric vehicle to complete the track in under seven minutes.
BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme Features More Than 3,000 PS
The Yangwang U9 Xtreme is powered by four electric motors delivering a combined output of more than 3,000 PS. It uses an advanced 1,200V electrical architecture designed to support its extreme performance capabilities.
The hypercar is also equipped with specialised high-speed tyres developed in collaboration with Giti Tire to withstand the demands of ultra-high-speed driving.
BYD Limits Yangwang U9 Xtreme Production to 30 Units
BYD plans to produce only 30 units of the Yangwang U9 Xtreme worldwide, making it an exclusive electric hypercar.
With its latest 503.17 km/h achievement, the U9 Xtreme has set a new benchmark for production electric vehicles and demonstrated the growing performance potential of high-powered electric drivetrains.
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