Fastest production car hits 313 MPH speed record on the highway

BYD's Yangwang U9 Xtreme (U9X) has done what no production car has managed before. The electric hypercar hit 503.17 km/h (312.66 mph) in Abu Dhabi, and both the FIA and Guinness World Records recognized the run.

What's even more impressive is that this was done on a regular urban highway, the A11 in Abu Dhabi, not a testing ground or a race track. Abu Dhabi closed a 10 km section of the E11 highway in Al Dhafra, which included a seven-kilometer straight. After two attempts, racing driver Marc Basseng set the new production car speed record run on November 1.

The result beats BYD's own previous mark. The U9X managed 472.41 km/h in August 2025 and 496.22 km/h a month later, so the new figure is a gain of 6.95 km/h, and one can only marvel at the quality of Abu Dhabi highways where the record was set. For comparison, while electric cars are known speed demons, the Rimac Nevera R held the EV record at "only" 431.45 km/h before Yangwang started its run.

As can be expected, BYD's technology in the car is as extreme as the model name sounds. The U9X is built on the first 1,200 V EV architecture, with a BYD Blade battery rated for 30C discharge in two minutes. Four custom motors spin at up to 30,000 rpm, a technology that is also in BYD cars capable of megawatt-level charging. Each motor peaks at 555 kW, for a combined output of more than 3,000 PS. Titanium-alloy carbon-ceramic brakes and the first Chinese tires developed for speeds above 500 km/h round out the package.

Yangwang is building 30 units of the production U9X, and BYD's premium performance brand has other impressive vehicles in its roster, including its first ultraluxury Maybach competitor Altior that is expected to be unveiled on November 8, again in Abu Dhabi.