BYD’s Yangwang U9 Xtreme EV sets record for fastest production car
BYD's YangwangU9 Xtreme EV clocked 496 kph at ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg test track in Germany, breaking the previous top speed from a production car record held by Bugatti Chiron.
New Delhi: Yangwang, the luxury sub-brand of Chinese company BYD, have claimed the record for production car top-speed record, clocking 496 kph (308.4 mph) at the ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg test track in Germany. Yangwang’s newest horse in the stable, the U9 Xtreme hypercar, was the one that claimed the record on September 14th, 2025.
It goes part their previous EV benchmark and the 490 kph record set by Bugatti Chiron in 2019, the quickest a petrol-powered model has gone. This modern milestone in engineering sets a new standard of course, with standout power and speed without emissions.
Upgrades in the Yangwang U9 Xtreme for its record-breaking speed
It had been introduced as the U9 Track Edition, and now it is officially carrying the Yangwang U9 Xtreme or U9X nameplate in the production edition. The fastest car on the planet takes its design elements from the U9 on sale in China and upgrades it with quite a few evolutions.
These upgrades includes an upgraded powertrain 1200V ultra-high-voltage electric, as opposed to 800V, a lithium iron phosphate Blade Battery with an amazing discharge rate of 30C, four ultra-high speed motors that operate at 30,000 rpm and producing a total of 2958 bhp, track-level semi-slick tyre and revised DiSus-X suspension with specific tuning to cope with increase in level of stress of the circuit driving.
BYD executive vice-president Stella Li lauded the achievement and said, "This is an incredibly proud moment for everyone in the research and development division. Yangwang is a brand that does not recognise the impossible.”
She further thanked the team and driver behind the wheel, Marc Basseng, for both his skill and technical input. Bessenge is a German track specialist with experience in sports car racing and endurance racing. Bessenge himself was amazed by the car’s performance and noted that technically it can’t be achieved in an internal combustion car. The car remains quiet due to the electric motor, and there are no load changes, making the driver more focused on the track and response.
The U9 X is now available to customers, albeit being a limited series production with a run of around 30 units.