BYD’s Yangwang U9 Sets Global EV Speed Record at 472 km/h [Video]

Yangwang, the luxury sub-brand of Chinese automaker BYD, has set a new global speed record for electric vehicles after its U9 Track Edition supercar reached 472.41 km/h (293.6 mph).

The record was announced on Tuesday and achieved on August 8 at the Automotive Testing Papenburg track in Germany.

The Yangwang U9 Track Edition is based on the same e4 platform and DiSus-X body control system as the standard U9, which went into production in China in July 2024.

Below is the video shared by BYD on Tuesday:

The two-seat model, priced at 1.68 million yuan ($235,000), is equipped with four 240 kW electric motors producing a combined output of 960 kW (1,287 hp).

For the record attempt, BYD engineers added a series of performance upgrades, including a mass-produced 1,200V ultra-high-voltage platform and an advanced thermal management system designed for extreme conditions.

Together, these enhancements raised the vehicle’s total output to more than 3,000 PS, giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 1,217 PS per tonne — levels typically reserved for the world’s fastest combustion supercars.

Yangwang said the DiSus-X intelligent suspension was key to stability at high speeds, allowing the car to make rapid vertical adjustments to suppress pitch and roll while optimizing grip.

Aerodynamic refinements included an optional carbon-fiber front splitter designed to withstand ultra-high-speed driving.

To manage the stresses on tyres at nearly 300 mph, BYD partnered with Singapore-based Giti Tire to develop a custom semi-slick track tyre using new compounds, tread designs, and rim-interface treatments to minimize slippage and wear.