BYD’s luxury sub-brand Yangwang has stunned the automotive world by setting a new world top speed record for an electric vehicle. Its first supercar, the U9 Track Edition, clocked a blistering 472.41 km/h during testing in Germany - making it the fastest EV on the planet.
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Record-Breaking Run in Germany
The record was set at the ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg facility, with German driver Marc Basseng behind the wheel.
Before the main run, the U9 warmed its tyres for more than a minute and smoothly accelerated past 300 km/h, before ultimately peaking at 472.41 km/h.
That figure is 60 km/h faster than the Rimac Nevera, which previously held the title at 412 km/h.
Basseng, who had also set earlier records, said:
“Last year, I thought I’d peaked. I never expected to break my own record so soon — but here we are, at the same track, with new technologies that have made it possible.”
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Evolution of BYD’s First Supercar
The Yangwang U9 made its debut in 2023 as BYD’s first electric supercar. Initially, it was claimed to reach 309 km/h, but soon after was seen testing at 375 km/h.
The vehicle is powered by a quad-motor powertrain delivering 960 kW (1,290 hp). However, the Track Edition revealed this month raises the bar significantly.
| Specification | U9 Standard Model | U9 Track Edition |
| Powertrain | Quad-motor | Quad 555 kW motors |
| Total Output | 960 kW (1,290 hp) | 2,200 kW (2,978 hp) |
| Claimed Top Speed | 309 km/h | 472.41 km/h (tested) |
| Acceleration (0–100 km/h) | 2.36 seconds | Faster (exact not confirmed) |
With nearly 3,000 hp, the Track Edition may be the most powerful production EV ever built, surpassing hypercars like the Rimac Nevera (1,427 kW) and Lotus Evija (1,500 kW).
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Advanced Tech Behind the Record
The U9 Track Edition uses a 1,200V architecture combined with BYD’s latest motor technology. The e-motors can spin at over 30,000 rpm, higher than any other production vehicle.
Each motor produces up to 555 kW, with an exceptional power density of 16.4 kW/kg. The motors also incorporate Silicon Carbide (SiC) power chips, enabling them to handle extreme voltages and current flows.
Charging is equally impressive. Thanks to BYD’s dual-input fast-charging system, the U9 can recharge from 30% to 80% in just 10 minutes.
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Battery and Range
The current showroom version of the U9 runs on BYD’s 80 kWh Blade battery, offering up to 450 km CLTC range (closer to 370 km WLTP in real-world terms).
| Feature | Yangwang U9 Standard |
| Battery | 80 kWh BYD Blade |
| Range | 450 km (CLTC) / ~370 km (WLTP est.) |
| 0–100 km/h | 2.36 seconds |
| Charging | 30–80% in 10 minutes |
Pricing and Availability
In China, the standard Yangwang U9 starts from ¥1.68 million (approx. $AU232,000). The Track Edition is expected to carry a significant premium, given its unprecedented power and performance figures.
The Track Edition is still a test vehicle, but a production-ready hypercar variant is expected to be revealed in the coming months.
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What This Means for EVs
The Yangwang U9 is more than just a halo project for BYD, it shows how quickly Chinese automakers are advancing in the high-performance EV sector. With specs that surpass European hypercars, the U9 positions BYD as a serious contender in the global performance car market.
For Australia, where BYD already sells some of the most popular budget-friendly EVs, the arrival of a record-breaking supercar would highlight the brand’s capabilities at both ends of the market.
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