BYD’s luxury brand YANGWANG has recently set a new global speed record with its U9 Xtreme, becoming the first production car to surpass 500 km/h, claimed a BYD press release on Sunday.
The vehicle reached a top speed of 503.17 km/h on Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, setting two Guinness World Records.
The achievement surpasses the previous record of 496.22 km/h, set by the same vehicle in Germany in September 2025. Racing driver Marc Basseng, who also drove the car during its previous record-breaking run, was behind the wheel.
The records recognise the highest speed achieved by a production car and an electric production car in a single direction run. The achievement has also received recognition from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, the governing body of international motorsport.
The U9 Xtreme is powered by four independent electric motors delivering more than 3,000 horsepower. Its 1,200-volt platform and BYD’s Blade Battery technology support high power output and thermal management. The e4 Platform independently controls torque distribution across all four wheels to maintain stability at high speeds.
BYD Executive Vice-President Stella Li said the achievement reflected the engineering team’s continued efforts to improve performance following the previous world record in Germany.
Imtiaz Nawsher, Chief Marketing Officer of BYD Bangladesh, said, “The YANGWANG U9 Xtreme’s achievement marks an important milestone in the development of electric vehicle technology. Breaking the 500 km/h barrier demonstrates how advancements in electric powertrains, battery technology and vehicle engineering are expanding the possibilities of electric mobility.”
