U9 Unleashed at 472 km/h

PAPENBURG, GERMANY — BYD’s luxury sub-brand YANGWANG has smashed the global EV speed record with its U9 Track Edition, clocking an official top speed of 472.41 km/h on August 8 at the ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg track.

The run makes the U9 Track Edition the world’s fastest electric vehicle, edging past the previous record also set at the same venue. Behind the wheel was German racing driver Marc Basseng, who last year held the title with an earlier version of the U9.

At the heart of the achievement is YANGWANG’s e4 Platform, the world’s first quad-motor system capable of spinning up to 30,000rpm. Each motor delivers 555kW, for a combined system output of over 3,000PS. With a power-to-weight ratio of 1,217PS per tonne, the U9 Track Edition rivals the world’s most extreme supercars.

The car also debuts the industry’s first mass-produced 1200V ultra-high-voltage platform, paired with a thermal-management system designed for extreme track conditions. Together with the DiSus-X Intelligent Body Control System, the U9 maintains stability at blistering speeds. The suspension adjusts independently at all four corners to keep the tires planted, reducing pitch, roll, and loss of traction.

Aerodynamics also played a key role. The Track Edition retains the sleek lines of the standard U9, but adds an optional carbon-fiber front splitter designed for ultra-high-speed stability. Tire durability was ensured through a collaboration with Giti Tire, which developed bespoke semi-slick tires for the run. These feature optimized compounds and a special knurling treatment to reduce tire slippage under extreme torque loads.

For Basseng, the feat was as much personal as technical. “Last year, I thought I’d peaked,” he said. “I never expected to break my own record so soon — but here we are, with new technologies that made it possible.”

With this record, BYD’s YANGWANG brand isn’t just chasing numbers. It’s pushing the boundaries of what electric supercars can achieve, blending sustainability with raw performance — and reshaping the global image of EVs in the process.