Science & Tech · Gadgets & EVs · 1 hr ago
BYD electric hypercar sets production-car speed record at 503.17 km/h
BYD’s Yangwang U9 Xtreme reached 503.17 km/h, making it the first production car to exceed 500 km/h.
German racing driver Marc Basseng set the speed on November 1 on a closed section of the E11 road in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The run broke the car’s own previous record of 496.22 km/h, set in Germany in September 2025.
Guinness World Records and the FIA recognized the new record, but it was measured in one direction only; traditional top-speed records often use runs in both directions to account for wind and road conditions.
The achievement shows that a limited-production electric car can compete at the highest levels of top speed, though the U9 Xtreme’s record is specifically for a single-direction run.
BYD plans to build just 30 cars and has scheduled a celebratory parade in Abu Dhabi for November 7.
BYD’s Yangwang U9 Xtreme reached 503.17 km/h in Abu Dhabi, becoming the first production car to exceed 500 km/h.
The run on November 1 was recognized by the FIA and Guinness World Records.
German racing driver Marc Basseng drove the car on a closed section of the E11 road in the Al Dhafra Region.
The record was set in a single direction, unlike speed records based on runs in opposite directions.
BYD plans to build 30 U9 Xtreme cars.
- Who
- BYD’s Yangwang U9 Xtreme, driven by German racing driver Marc Basseng.
- What
- It reached 503.17 km/h, becoming the first production car to exceed 500 km/h.
- When
- November 1, 2026.
- Where
- A closed section of the E11 road in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra Region, United Arab Emirates.
- Why
- The attempt sought to set a new top-speed record for a production car.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Yangwang U9 Xtreme set a previous speed record of 496.22 km/h at Germany’s ATP Papenburg proving ground.
The car’s first two runs reached a maximum speed of 490 km/h.
Marc Basseng drove the car to 503.17 km/h on a closed road in Abu Dhabi.
Reports said the FIA and Guinness World Records recognized the achievement.
- Record speed
- 503.17 km/h
- Date of record run
- November 1, 2026
- Location
- E11 road, Al Dhafra Region, Abu Dhabi
- Driver
- Marc Basseng
- Production plan
- 30 units
- Powertrain
- Four electric motors
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has done the impossible
the fastest production car on the planet