472.41 kph: BYD sets new EV speed record with Yangwang U9

The record was set on 8 August 2025 with the latest Yangwang U9 Track Edition, according to the Chinese carmaker. At the wheel was German racing driver Marc Basseng, who had set the previous record for an EV in 2024 – also in Papenburg – when he pushed an Aspark SP600 to 438.7 km/h. “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 according to a BYD press release.

Yangwang unveiled the U9 Track Edition on 10 August, after Basseng had already broken the record. Unlike the standard U9 with 960 kW, the Track Edition has been boosted to 2,250 kW. BYD has already equipped the more mainstream Han L and Tang L models with its latest generation of electric motors – now China’s first hypercar benefits as well. And instead of two motors, the U9 comes with four, each rated at 555 kW.

The Track Edition runs on a 1,200-volt system and features thermal management optimised for extreme conditions. With over 3,000 hp on tap, many aspects of the car are engineered for maximum stress. For the record run in Papenburg, however, the large rear wing was removed to cut drag.

That also applied to the tyres: when Yangwang tested the standard U9 in Papenburg last year, reaching 391.94 kph, the tyres proved a limiting factor. Based on those tests, Yangwang and Giti Tire developed a new semi-slick for track use.

“This high-performance tyre features optimised compound materials and a bespoke tread design, while an innovative knurling treatment at the wheel-rim interface, combined with high-viscosity lubricant, minimises relative slippage between the tyre and the rim during hard acceleration or braking. This reduces torque loss and tyre wear, while improving predictability and stability during dynamic manoeuvres,” BYD explains.

With its 472.41 kph run, the Yangwang U9 Track Edition has now set a new top speed for electric vehicles. The question remains what else BYD and Yangwang plan to do with the hypercar, given that the U9 has also been tested on the Nürburgring Nordschleife – where it had to concede lap times to rivals such as the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, Rimac Nevera and Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. The Track Edition could change that.

Source: Information via e-mail

This article was first published by Sebastian Schaal for electrive’s German edition.