BYD's EV: Inside the World's Fastest Production Car
YANGWANG, the luxury sub-brand of new-energy vehicle manufacturer BYD, has established a new global production-car top-speed record.
On 14 September 2025, the U9 Xtreme hypercar reached 308.4 mph at the ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg test track in Germany, surpassing not only its previous electric vehicle record but also the established 304.1 mph benchmark of the fastest petrol-powered production car.
This achievement could change perceptions of what electric vehicles can accomplish in terms of speed and innovation.
About the YANGWANG U9 Xtreme
The YANGWANG U9 Xtreme, or U9X, represents an evolution of the U9 platform which is already present in the Chinese market.
According to BYD, several technological upgrades have enabled the U9X to reach this top speed.
The car now features a 1,200V ultra-high-voltage electrical system compared to the previous 800V arrangement.
This improvement supports a suite of performance enhancements, including a lithium iron phosphate Blade Battery capable of a 30C discharge rate and four ultra-high-speed motors that each operate at up to 30,000rpm.
Collectively, these motors deliver a total power output of over 3,000PS.
Additionally, the U9X is fitted with track-grade semi-slick tyres and a revised DiSus-X suspension system which has been specifically tuned to manage the demands of high-speed circuits.
These adjustments are intended to demonstrate how advances in sustainable automotive technology can also lead to improvements in overall performance.
Advances in electric mobility
The record-breaking achievement was met with praise from those involved.
“This is an incredibly proud moment for everyone in the research and development division,” says Stella Li, Executive Vice President at BYD.
“YANGWANG is a brand that does not recognise the impossible and only through this commitment to what’s coming next can you end up with a vehicle like the U9X.
“I extend my gratitude to the whole team and my thanks to the driver, Marc Basseng, for his skill and technical input.
“It’s terrific that the fastest production car in the world is now electric.”
The person at the wheel for the record attempt was Marc Basseng, a German track specialist.
His experience in sports-car racing and endurance motorsport provided valuable input during the development.
“This record was only possible because the U9 Xtreme simply has incredible performance,” says Marc.
“Technically, something like this is not possible with a combustion engine.
“Thanks to the electric motor, the car is quiet, there are no load changes and that allows me to focus even more on the track.”
His comments underline the distinct advantages of electric powertrains in high-performance applications.
The U9 Xtreme is set for a limited series production run of no more than 30 units.
