In Brief
The BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme, the electric hypercar, has just set a new world speed record of 503.17 km/h during a test in Abu Dhabi. It surpasses the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ and establishes itself as the fastest production car across all powertrains. Fueled by 3,019 horsepower and running on special Giti tires, it now holds four major records in its class. These feats demonstrate BYD’s rapid progress in ultra-high-performance automotive and its innovative market positioning strategy.
With its 3,019 horsepower, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme has just improved its own world record and confirms BYD’s ambitions in the realm of ultra-high-performance cars.
Yangwang U9 Xtreme: 503.17 km/h in Abu Dhabi!
In 2025, the U9 Xtreme already grabbed attention by reaching 496.22 km/h in a straight-line run, ending the reign of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ as the fastest production car in history. A year later, BYD came back with a symbolic milestone: surpassing the 500 km/h barrier! This feat was achieved on November 1, 2026 on the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road (E11) in the Al Dhafra region near Abu Dhabi. At the wheel was once again Marc Basseng, who also drove during the previous record attempt on the ATP Papenburg test circuit in Germany. To reach this extraordinary speed, the U9 Xtreme relied not only on its 3,019 horsepower but also on specially adapted tires provided by Giti. The course had been meticulously prepared for the occasion, featuring a 10-kilometer stretch of road closed to traffic, of which seven kilometers were straight (about 4.3 miles). The tests spanned two days. On October 31, two runs yielded 490 km/h. The following day, two more attempts pushed Yangwang past the historic threshold: 503.17 km/h!
Yangwang U9 Xtreme: four records on the same day
With this new benchmark, the hypercar now claims four records: the fastest production car in the world across all powertrains; the fastest production electric vehicle; the tire engineered for electric vehicles that achieved the highest speed; and the tire designed for a road-legal car that attained the highest speed. The U9 Xtreme’s trajectory highlights the work put in by BYD’s teams. Since its earliest tests, the hypercar has kept pushing the envelope. It first breached 309 km/h in January 2024 at Wuhan Hannan Airport in China. Then in October 2024, it climbed to 391.94 km/h on the Papenburg circuit in Germany. In August 2025, the U9 Xtreme reached 472.41 km/h, just weeks before Bugatti’s 496.22 km/h record was eclipsed. And most notably, 503.17 km/h was achieved in November 2026. A new record added to the U9’s battery of achievements, including a Nürburgring lap of 6 minutes 59.157 seconds, making it the fastest electric production car on the famous Nordschleife.
BYD isn’t treating this as a mere publicity stunt. The Yangwang U9 Xtreme is indeed meant for a select group of privileged customers, even though production will be limited to 30 units.
Comparative Table
| Vehicle | Date | Speed Reached (km/h) | Location | Horsepower |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yangwang U9 Xtreme | January 2024 | 309 | Wuhan Hannan Airport (China) | 3,019 |
| Yangwang U9 Xtreme | October 2024 | 391.94 | ATP Papenburg (Germany) | 3,019 |
| Yangwang U9 Xtreme | August 2025 | 472.41 | – | 3,019 |
| Yangwang U9 Xtreme | 2025 | 496.22 | ATP Papenburg (Germany) | 3,019 |
| Yangwang U9 Xtreme | November 1, 2026 | 503.17 | Abu Dhabi (E11, Al Dhafra) | 3,019 |
| Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ | – | <496.22 | – | – |
The Essentials to Remember
- BYD’s Yangwang U9 Xtreme has set a new world speed record at 503.17 km/h.
- It officially surpasses the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ in top speed.
- The hypercar delivers 3,019 horsepower and runs on special Giti tires.
- The record was set on a closed road in Abu Dhabi on November 1, 2026.
- Marc Basseng was behind the wheel for this historic run.
- Production will be limited to just 30 units for select customers.
- The car now holds four records, including the title of fastest production car across all categories.
FAQ
What is the top speed reached by the Yangwang U9 Xtreme?
The Yangwang U9 Xtreme officially hit 503.17 km/h (approximately 312.5 mph) in November 2026 in Abu Dhabi.
How many horsepower does the BYD U9 Xtreme develop?
The Yangwang U9 Xtreme delivers 3,019 horsepower.
How many units will be produced?
Production will be limited to only 30 units.
Which records does the Yangwang U9 Xtreme hold?
It holds four records: the fastest production car globally across all powertrains; the fastest production electric car; the tire for electric vehicles that achieved the highest speed; and the tire for a road-legal car that reached the highest speed.
Who drove the Yangwang U9 Xtreme during the record?
The driver was Marc Basseng for the Abu Dhabi record run.
