Chinese automakers have long dominated the mass-market segment. Now, they’re taking on the hypercar elite. In a shocking twist, the crown for top speed no longer sits with Bugatti, Koenigsegg, or Rimac. Instead, it belongs to the all-electric Yanwang U9 Extreme, built by BYD.
Driven by Marc Basseng at Germany’s Papenburg test track, the U9 Extreme reached 308.37 mph (496.22 km/h). That’s significantly faster than the U9 Track Edition. The run makes it the fastest electric car in the world and, depending on the definition, the fastest car outright. It even dethroned the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ after six years.
The Technology Behind the Record
The U9 Extreme’s secret is brute force. It runs on four electric motors that produce a combined 2,978 hp. That makes it the most powerful production car ever built. The hypercar also uses the world’s first 1,200-volt production platform and denser batteries than anything else in BYD’s lineup.
At Papenburg, Basseng was already hitting 186 mph (300 km/h) on the bank. Only when reaching the long straight did he fully plant his foot. Onboard footage shows the car drifting left at 300 mph (483 km/h), nearly grazing the barrier. Still, Basseng pushed on until the speedometer hit 308 mph (496 km/h), before easing off.
The Catch: One-Way vs Two-Way Runs
There’s a caveat. Official speed records require a two-way average. By that standard, SSC’s Tuatara still holds the record at 282.9 mph. Bugatti’s 304 mph Chiron run also doesn’t qualify. The Yanwang U9 Extreme’s achievement was a one-way sprint. Even so, no other car has gone faster in a single run. That’s enough to call it the world’s fastest electric car and, for many, the new king of speed.
China Enters the Hypercar Stage
BYD has already conquered the global mass-market. Hypercars, however, remained Europe and America’s playground, until now. The Yanwang U9 Extreme proves that China can not only compete but also win.
It’s not just about top speed. The U9 Extreme lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 6:59.157. That’s six seconds quicker than the Rimac Nevera and just three seconds slower than the Porsche GT3 RS. For now, production is limited to 30 units. Still, BYD has made a bold statement, and the world is waiting to see what comes next.
