YANGWANG, the luxury sub-brand of BYD, has set a new global production-car top-speed record of 496.22 km/h. The record was achieved on September 14, 2025, at the ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg track in Germany with the brand’s latest hypercar, the U9 Xtreme.
The U9 Xtreme, also known as the U9X, surpassed their previous EV benchmark of 472.41 km/h and the 489 km/h record of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, making it the world’s fastest car overall.
Originally referred to as the U9 Track/Special Edition, the U9X builds on the existing U9 sold in China but with key upgrades. These include a 1200V ultra-high-voltage electrical system, a lithium iron phosphate Blade Battery with a 30C discharge rate, four electric motors capable of 30,000 rpm producing 2978 hp, semi-slick tyres, and a revised DiSus-X suspension system designed for circuit-level stresses.
The record run was driven by Marc Basseng, a German track specialist and endurance racing veteran. He said the electric system allowed greater focus on driving, noting the lack of load changes and quiet operation compared with combustion engines.
BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li called the achievement a proud moment for the company’s R&D division. She praised the team and Basseng, stating that the milestone proves the potential of electric vehicles at the highest levels of performance.
The U9X will be offered in a limited production run of no more than 30 units. Its name reflects the brand’s focus on pushing limits, with “Extreme” signifying ultimate performance and “X” representing the unknown.
With this record, YANGWANG positions the U9X as not only the fastest production car in the world but also as a demonstration of electric mobility’s potential in the hypercar segment.
Bugatti has announced an end to chasing top-speed records, but will Koenigsegg answer back? Only time will tell.
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