This Chinese BYD Electric Supercar is Now the World’s Fastest EV

YANGWANG, BYD’s high-end sub-brand, has set a new global electric vehicle speed record of 472.41 km/h at the ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg track in Germany.

The record was achieved on 8 August 2025 by the U9 Track Edition supercar.

The production version of the YANGWANG U9 had already drawn attention earlier this year, when it was spotted in Sydney during a series of upcoming technology demonstrations, as reported by CarSauce.

That vehicle is powered by four electric motors producing a combined 960kW and 1680Nm, with a claimed top speed of 309 km/h.

By contrast, the new Track Edition builds on the same e4 Platform and DiSus-X architecture but incorporates a 1200V ultra-high-voltage system and revised thermal management to support extreme performance.

It retains the U9’s aerodynamic design but adds a carbon-fibre splitter developed for high-speed stability.

Power is provided by four 30,000rpm motors, each producing 555kW, delivering a combined output exceeding 2,200kW (3,000PS). The setup results in a power-to-weight ratio of 895kW (1,217PS) per tonne, placing it well above the standard production model.

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The quad-motor system continuously adjusts torque at each wheel more than 100 times per second, maintaining traction and stability at high speeds. Complementing this, the DiSus-X Intelligent Body Control System suppresses pitch and roll while ensuring tyre contact during rapid acceleration and cornering.

To manage tyre performance under such conditions, YANGWANG collaborated with Giti Tire to produce a semi-slick tyre with optimised compounds and a bespoke tread. The design includes a knurling treatment at the rim interface to reduce torque loss and tyre wear.

The record-setting run was driven by German professional driver Marc Basseng, who also set the previous EV top-speed record in 2024. Basseng noted the progress in technology that enabled him to surpass his own record in less than a year.

While the U9 has appeared in Australia for demonstrations, BYD has stated it has no current plans to bring the model to market locally.