BYD YANGWANG U9 Xtreme becomes fastest production car in the world after topping 500km/h to set record
Published on Nov 06, 2026 at 3:21 AM (UTC-5)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Nov 06, 2026 at 4:39 AM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Mason Jones
The BYD YANGWANG U9 Xtreme has become the world’s fastest production car after topping 500km/h and setting a new record.
And that’s beating the 496km/h record it set last year.
Talk about upping the ante.
It’s secured itself four Guinness World Records, and that’s the tip of the iceberg with this car.
The BYD YANGWANG U9 Xtreme’s incredible reputation
If there’s one thing you can count on the YANGWANG U9 Xtreme for, it’s speed.
This car has been repeatedly breaking its own speed records year after year.
Sold under BYD’s sub-division YANGWANG, the YANGWANG U9 Xtreme keeps beating its own record.
Driven by German race driver Marc Basseng, the YANGWANG U9 Xtreme already reached an unbelievable 496.22km/h (308.34mph) at ATP Papenburg’s high speed oval in September 2025.
This topped a record it set a month earlier when it set a global top EV speed of 472.41km/h.
The onboard footage was just as exhilarating as you’d imagine.
But not content to rest on its laurels, YANGWANG has smashed its own record a year later.
How did it do it?
How the YANGWANG U9 Xtreme broke its own record
On a public road in Abu Dhabi, Basseng got behind the wheel of a car to make history…again.
Roughly 10km of road was closed off for the record to be set.
On October 31, two runs topped out at roughly 490km/h.
Overnight engineers worked to optimize battery and motor temperatures, adjusted the rear wing, retuned the suspension, and fine-tuned the tire pressure.
The next day, they attempted the runs again – and that’s when the record was set.
What world records has the car secured now?
Four world records isn’t a bad day’s work, is it?
It is now the Fastest Production Car, Fastest Electric Production Car, Fastest EV Tire, and Fastest Road Car Type.
“I always tell people that our engineers are young, bold and maybe a little crazy – but in a good way! And again, we must congratulate them and the whole YANGWANG U9X team for an incredible next step and these astonishing records,” Stella Li, BYD’s Executive Vice-president, said.
“Breaking a world record once is extraordinary, but doing it again in such a different environment is truly special,” Marc Basseng said.
“At these extreme details every detail matters, and none of this would have been possible without the incredible YANGWANG engineering team.
“I am proud to be part of this journey and to demonstrate just how far electric vehicle technology can go.”
And just think – a year from now, we could be talking again about they’ve smashed their record again.
The best of Supercar Blondie, every Sunday
The week's best car stories, straight to your inbox. Free.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
