Video shows moment BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme became the 'fastest production car in the world' hitting a stunning 308.34mph

The BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme recently became the ‘fastest production car’ in the world… again.

The record has been set and broken by BYD a few times, and at this time it looks like it’s neck and neck between BYD and, well, BYD.

The Chinese automaker reached nearly 500km/h, which is wild.

These numbers are so big we’re becoming numb to them

We’ve always had speed records, but these records used to resist for a few years.

Now, automakers are setting a new record on a yearly basis.

The list comprises dozens of cars in the last 10 years alone, and that’s just including full-fledged production cars, which means it’d be longer if we included slightly modified variants, purpose-built prototypes and so on.

The thing is, these numbers are becoming so big that we’re getting used to them.

A 300km/h (186mph) car would’ve been a sensation back then, but, in today’s market, that’s just another car.

Also, these records would be the exclusive prerogative of performance brands in the past.

But now, with EVs, the same automaker that can build a daily runabout for less than $20,000 can also be capable of manufacturing the fastest production car in the world.

That’s exactly the case with BYD, by the way.

The same company that gave us the $8,000 Seagull is building this, the 3,000-horsepower U9.

BYD keeps breaking its own records

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 has reached an unbelievable 496.22km/h (308.34mph) at ATP Papenburg’s high speed oval.

That makes it faster than most trains, faster than basically anything else on wheels, and even faster than some commercial planes.

But there’s a minor caveat.

According to some critics, the word ‘production’ was used a little too loosely

Several people argue that the word ‘production’ shouldn’t be used loosely.

In general, for the purposes of this list, the fastest production car in the world must be built for personal use, available commercially, street-legal, and sold in more than one national market.

There’s no specified production cap, but that’s more fuel for an argument.

Specifically, in this case, there are four main ‘complaints’ that people have levied.

One, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme is currently only available in China; two, only 30 units were built; three, this is technically a purpose-built prototype even though it’s very similar to the production model; and four – this is the kicker – the run was not bidirectional.

Translated, would this car be capable of reaching that speed running in the opposite direction with several conditions (track incline, wind) working against it rather than in its favor?

For the sake of clarity, we have to point that BYD did not claim the record for the fastest production car.

Their statement is clear: “Fastest car on the planet.”

Whether this is an official record or not, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme is unbelievably quick.