BYD’s Yangwang U9 Xtreme has become the first production car to top 500 kmph. According to the FIA, driver Marc Basseng reached 503.17 kmph, roughly 312.7 mph on a closed section of the E11 road in Abu Dhabi, breaking its own record, which was set in September 2025. The technicalities require you to decide for yourself whether or not the record attempt is valid, or if BYD tried to bend the rules.
BYD
How It Happened
Authorities closed a 10 km (6.2 mile) stretch with a 7km (4.3 mile) straight. Two runs on October 31st reached 490 kmph (304 mph). BYD engineers then adjusted the aerodynamics, suspension, and tire pressures before two more runs on November 1st, which produced the 503.17 km/h figure. The FIA says the car earned two Guinness World Records, for the fastest production car and the fastest electric production car.
BYD
The Asterisk
Both titles are for a single-direction run. Through history, production-car speed records have traditionally averaged two runs in opposite directions, and Bugatti drew similar criticism in 2019 for its top speed run. The FIA’s release doesn’t describe the timing method. The car also ran bespoke semi-slick tires developed with Giti Tire, and it’s unclear whether customer cars will get them. Days earlier, BYD released footage of a U9 Xtreme hitting a guardrail at about 280 mph during testing. The driver was reportedly unhurt.
Should We Be Bothered?
Realistically, it’s not something you’re likely to buy. Only 30 will be built, at around $3 million each, and BYD doesn’t sell passenger cars in the US. The numbers are still wild: four electric motors rated at 535 kW each, making about 2,977 horsepower together, making it an undeniable feat of engineering. Maybe one day we can see these high-performance EVs being put up against America’s version, with rocket thrusters doing kick-flips.
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