The YANGWANG U9 Xtreme has achieved a top speed of more than 312.66 mph (503.17 km/h) during a high-speed run in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, becoming the first production car to surpass the 500 km/h threshold.

The speed, achieved on November 1, has been recognized by the FIA, the global governing body for motorsport and the federation for mobility organizations worldwide.

The achievement exceeds the previous benchmark of 308.2 mph (496.22 km/h), established by the same vehicle in Germany in September 2025. The latest run has also secured two Guinness World Records for the highest speed achieved by a production car and an electric production car in a single-direction run.

The high-speed attempt took place on Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road (E11), in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra Region, with German racing driver Marc Basseng behind the wheel. Basseng, an experienced sportscar and endurance competitor, also drove the U9 Xtreme during its previous high-speed achievement at the ATP Papenburg proving ground in Germany.

The latest milestone follows a period of development by YANGWANG, the luxury electric vehicle brand of Chinese automotive manufacturer BYD, which has progressively increased the performance of its U9 hypercar since the project's introduction in 2024.

The Abu Dhabi attempt was conducted over two days, with the cooperation of local authorities inclosing the FIA and the closure of a 6.2-mile section of road, including a 4.3-mile straight used for the high-speed runs.

Following two initial runs on October 31, which reached a maximum speed of 304 mph, engineers made further adjustments to the vehicle's aerodynamics, suspension settings and tire pressures to improve stability and performance. Two additional runs were completed on 1 November, with the second achieving the final speed of 312.66 mph.

The U9 Xtreme is powered by four independent electric motors producing a combined output of more than 3,000 hp. Its technical specification includes a 1,200-volt electrical architecture, an advanced torque-vectoring system and specialized high-performance tires developed in collaboration with Giti Tire.

The vehicle also incorporates an active suspension system designed to optimize stability and control at high speeds, alongside battery and thermal-management technology developed to support the demands of high-performance electric driving, the manufacturer says.

For more information, visit fia.com.

Image courtesy of FIA