Yangwang U9 Xtreme Becomes First Production Car Over 500 km/h

The Yangwang U9 Xtreme electric hypercar became the first production car to officially surpass 500 km/h, reaching a top speed of 503.17 km/h (312.66 mph). Professional racing driver Marc Basseng achieved the record on November 1, 2026, on a closed section of the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road (E11) in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra region.

The achievement was officially recognized by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and Guinness World Records as a single-direction speed performance. This milestone surpasses the vehicle's previous record of 496.22 km/h set in Germany in September 2025. To reach the new speed, engineers adjusted the rear-wing angle for increased downforce, modified suspension software for rebound damping, and tuned tire pressures.

The hypercar utilizes an upgraded e4 quad-motor system delivering over 3,000 PS and a 1,200-volt electrical architecture, featuring specialized semi-slick tyres developed with Giti Tire. While the FIA and Guinness World Records validated the run, some organizations, including the Petersen Automotive Museum, do not recognize single-direction runs for official rankings.

BYD plans to produce only 30 units of the U9 Xtreme. The reported price for each unit exceeds 20 million yuan ($2.98 million).