China’s BYD has claimed the title of the world’s fastest car after its Yangwang U9 reached a speed of 496.22 kilometers per hour (308.3 mph), breaking the 2019 record set by the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ at 490.4 kph.
The record was achieved at the Papenburg test track in Germany, with German test driver Marc Basseng behind the wheel. Less than a month earlier, on the same track, he also set the speed record for electric cars with the same model.
In a video released by BYD, viewers can see tire warm-ups before the run, the moment the car hits its peak speed — uncomfortably close to the left-side barrier — and Basseng’s ecstatic screams after the historic achievement.
The record-breaking car is an “Extreme” edition of the Yangwang U9, unofficially dubbed the U9X. Only 30 units will be produced. It delivers a staggering 3,027 horsepower, more than double the 1,287 hp of the standard version.
To achieve such output, BYD equipped the car with four electric motors using ultra-thin super silicon — just 0.1 millimeters thick — in mass production for the first time. Each motor spins up to 30,000 rpm, producing 757 hp apiece.
The U9X also debuts the world’s first 1,200-volt electrical system, providing 170% more power density than the advanced 800-volt systems found in today’s high-performance EVs. This enables a discharge rate of 30C, about 10 times that of a typical EV and double that of most electric hypercars.
The system reduces heat generation by 67% compared with 800-volt setups and allows for regenerative braking at an unmatched 700 kilowatts, significantly easing stress on the mechanical brakes.
The car also features BYD’s Disus-X suspension, which scans road surfaces 100 times per second to adjust torque distribution and stiffness, allowing for high-speed cornering with zero body roll — or even negative roll. Special Giti tires minimize slippage between rim and rubber during hard acceleration and braking.
Bugatti’s previous record came after more than a century of motorsport heritage. At the time, BYD was barely known outside China. That its Yangwang sub-brand — launched only two years ago — has surpassed Bugatti underlines the breathtaking pace of China’s auto industry. But the record may not last long: given the sector’s rapid innovation, the next world’s fastest car may come from a company that doesn’t even exist yet.
