Chinese EV maker Yangwang, a sub-brand of BYD, has registered a new world speed record for electric vehicles. The brand’s U9 Track Edition reached 472.41 km/h (294 mph) at the ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg track in Germany, surpassing the previous record.
German professional driver Marc Basseng, who also set the prior global EV speed record in 2024, was behind the wheel for Yangwang’s test.
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“Last year, I thought I’d peaked. I never expected to break my own record so soon — but here we are, at the same track, with new technologies that have made it possible,” Basseng said after the run.
The Yangwang U9 Track Edition is based on BYD’s e4 platform and features a 1,200-volt ultra-high-voltage architecture, a first for a mass-produced car. It is powered by four electric motors capable of running at 30,000 rpm, each producing 744 hp.
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The car’s combined output reaches just under 3,000 hp, giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 1,205 hp per tonne. The U9 also incorporates a specialized braking system and improved aerodynamics to manage extreme speeds safely.
Yangwang plans to offer the track-focused U9 for public sale starting in the fourth quarter, alongside a road-legal version delivering 1,306 hp (960 kW).
