Chinese automaker BYD has become the first company in the world to break the 500 km/h speed barrier with a production car, after its all-electric Yangwang U9 Xtreme reached a record-breaking speed of 503.17 km/h. The attempt took place on November 1 on a closed section of the E11 highway in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), with German racing driver Marc Basseng behind the wheel.
The record was officially recognised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and announced on Friday, earning BYD two Guinness World Records for the fastest production car and fastest electric production car in a single-direction run. The latest achievement comes just over a year after the same car reached 496.22 km/h during testing in Germany in September 2025.
According to BYD, the attempt took place over two days on a 10-kilometre stretch of highway closed to traffic. The car initially reached 490 km/h on October 31, prompting engineers to make adjustments to its aerodynamics, suspension, and tyre pressures.
Two more runs were conducted the following day, with the final attempt taking the car past the 500 km/h mark. The Yangwang U9 Xtreme is powered by four electric motors producing nearly 3,000 horsepower, with a 1,200-volt electrical system designed for extreme performance.
However, the record-breaking vehicle will not be available to ordinary motorists, as BYD plans to manufacture only 30 units worldwide. The achievement is recognised specifically for a single-direction run, rather than the two-way average required under some other production-car speed-record rules.