Yangwang U9 Xtreme Sets 503 km/h Record to Become the Fastest Production Car in the World

The Yangwang U9 Xtreme is now the fastest production car in the world. On 1 November 2026, the four-motor electric hypercar from BYD's luxury brand reached 503.17 km/h on a closed section of Abu Dhabi's E11 highway. It is the first production car to officially pass 500 km/h, and the FIA has recognised the speed.

How Did the Yangwang U9 Xtreme Reach 503 km/h?

The Yangwang U9 Xtreme reached 503.17 km/h on the fourth of four runs over two days, with German racing driver Marc Basseng at the wheel. Authorities closed 10 km of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road (E11) in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra Region, giving the team a 7 km straight for top-speed attempts.

A public highway brings problems a test track does not. Crews checked the surface metre by metre to clear desert sand and small metal fragments, because debris can destroy a tyre at almost 140 metres per second. The first day, 31 October, peaked at 490 km/h. Engineers then reportedly added rear wing angle for downforce, firmed up the rebound damping for the road's undulations and changed how the battery and motors warmed up before each run. The second run on 1 November stopped the clock at 503.17 km/h, 6.95 km/h above the car's own previous best.

What Records Does the Yangwang U9 Xtreme Hold?

The Yangwang U9 Xtreme holds FIA recognition for its 503.17 km/h top speed, plus two Guinness World Records: fastest production car and fastest electric production car, both in a single-direction run. Its Giti tyres reportedly earned two more Guinness titles. The car also holds the electric production car lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

Like the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, which hit 490.48 km/h in 2019, the U9 set its mark in one direction rather than as a two-way average. It now sits almost 13 km/h clear of the Bugatti.

Yangwang U9 Xtreme Specs and Horsepower

The Yangwang U9 Xtreme uses four independent electric motors that combine for 2,220 kW, or 2,977 hp. Each motor delivers 555 kW and spins up to 30,000 rpm, running on a 1,200-volt architecture and a high-discharge BYD Blade Battery. Only 30 cars will be built, and the standard U9 makes 960 kW (1,287 hp).

Fastest Car in the World: How the U9 Xtreme Compares

The Yangwang U9 Xtreme tops the list of the fastest cars in the world at 503.17 km/h, ahead of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ at 490.48 km/h. Among electric cars the gap is far wider: the next quickest EV, the Aspark Owl SP600 prototype, sits more than 64 km/h behind.

Yangwang's own progress is steep. The U9 managed 309 km/h in early 2024 testing and 391.94 km/h at Germany's ATP Papenburg that October. The Xtreme then hit 472.41 km/h and 496.22 km/h at the same track in 2025, before Abu Dhabi added the final 7 km/h. That adds up to almost 200 km/h in under three years.

Why the Abu Dhabi Run Matters

The Abu Dhabi run matters because it moves top-speed record attempts away from their usual homes on German proving grounds and closed Nevada roads. It shows a Chinese brand beating Bugatti's long-standing mark with electric power, and it proves the U9 Xtreme can hold 500 km/h on a real road surface rather than a perfect test track.

Yangwang announced the record on 6 November at a Celebration of Speed event in Downtown Dubai, in the same week it gave its Altior flagship sedan a world debut in Abu Dhabi. Follow every brand update on our Yangwang page and the wider BYD range.

Verdict: Yangwang U9 Xtreme Rewrites the Speed Books

The Yangwang U9 Xtreme has done what Bugatti, SSC and Koenigsegg could not: broken 500 km/h in a production car, and done it on electric power. With only 30 built, few will own one, but the record changes how the industry sees Chinese performance cars.

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FAQs

Is the Yangwang U9 Xtreme the fastest car in the world?

Yes. It is the fastest production car, with an FIA-recognised 503.17 km/h single-direction run in Abu Dhabi on 1 November 2026.

What is the fastest electric car in the world?

The Yangwang U9 Xtreme at 503.17 km/h, ahead of the Aspark Owl SP600 prototype (438.73 km/h) and the Rimac Nevera R (431.45 km/h).

Who drove the Yangwang U9 Xtreme to 503 km/h?

German racing driver Marc Basseng, who also set the car's earlier 496.22 km/h best in 2025.

How much horsepower does the Yangwang U9 Xtreme have?

2,977 hp (2,220 kW) from four electric motors, against 1,287 hp for the standard U9.

How many Yangwang U9 Xtreme cars will be made?

Production is limited to 30 units worldwide.