Chinese automakers have been dominating the mass-market segment, but now they’re coming for the hypercar elite. In a shocking twist, the crown for top speed no longer sits with Bugatti, Koenigsegg, or Rimac. Instead, it belongs to the all-electric Yanwang U9 Extreme, built by BYD. Driven by Marc Basseng at Germany’s Papenburg test track, the U9 Extreme reached 308.37 mph (496.22 km/h), significantly faster than the U9 Track Edition. That run makes it the fastest electric car in the world and, depending on how you define it, the fastest car outright, beating the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+’s 6-year record.
How the Yanwang U9 Extreme Pulled It Off
The secret behind this record-breaking speed is brute force. The U9 Extreme uses four electric motors that combine for 2,978 hp, making it the most powerful production car ever built. It runs on the world’s first 1,200-volt production platform and packs denser batteries than anything else in BYD’s range. At Papenburg, Basseng was already nudging 186 mph (300 km/h) around the bank, and only when reaching the long straight, he plant his foot. Onboard footage shows how the U9 starts to drift to the left when hitting 300 mph (483 km/h), nearly hitting the barrier, but that didn't stop Basseng. He powered through until it touched 308 mph (496 km/h), and then backed off.
Why It’s Not Technically the Fastest Car
Yangwang
Bugatti
SSC
There is a catch. Official top speed records require a two-way average, and that title still belongs to SSC’s Tuatara with 282.9 mph. By that same standard, Bugatti’s 304 mph Chiron run also doesn’t count. The Yanwang U9 Extreme’s achievement was a one-way run, but that doesn’t change the fact that it outran everything else in the world. With 308 mph under its belt, it’s fair to call it the world’s fastest electric car and, for many, the new king of speed.
Nurburgring Domination
Chinese carmaker BYD is conquering the global automotive market, but it's never stood a chance against Europe and America when it comes to hypercars. But BYD's Yanwang U9 proves China can play – and win. It’s not a one-trick pony either: the U9 Extreme lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 6:59.157, 6 seconds quicker than the Rimac Nevera, and just 3 seconds shy of the Porsche GT3 RS. For the time being, production of the U9 Extreme is capped at just 30 units, but there's no telling what BYD has in store for the remainder of its life cycle.
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