BYD’s Yangwang U9 Sets Global EV Top Speed Record at 472.41 km/h costs Rs. 2.06 Crore
BYD’s ultra-luxury sub-brand Yangwang has rewritten the record books, as its U9 electric supercar test vehicle clocked an astonishing 472.41 km/h — the fastest speed ever recorded by an electric vehicle. The feat was achieved on August 8, 2025, at Germany’s ATP test track by professional racing driver Marc Basseng, underscoring BYD’s rapid technological advancements in high-performance EV engineering.
World’s First 1200-Volt Platform & Thermal Management
The record-breaking test car was powered by the world’s first mass-produced 1200-volt ultra-high voltage platform, paired with an advanced thermal management system designed for extreme conditions. This setup ensures consistent performance and enhanced safety even at maximum speeds.
Quad-Motor e4 Powertrain: Over 3,000 PS Output
At the heart of the Yangwang U9’s performance is the e4 quad-motor powertrain — the world’s first platform using 30,000-rpm high-performance motors.
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Each motor delivers 555 kW peak power
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Combined output: 3,000+ PS horsepower
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Power-to-weight ratio: 1,217 PS/t (world-leading standard)
This extraordinary setup allows the U9 to accelerate and maintain performance levels that surpass many internal combustion hypercars.
Production Model Specifications
While the record-setting car was an engineering prototype, the production version of the Yangwang U9 — launched in China on February 25, 2024 — is no less impressive:
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Price: RMB 1.68 million (₹2.06 crore)
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Dual-seat supercar layout
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Four-motor system (240 kW each)
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Combined output: 960 kW / 1,288 hp
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Torque: 1,680 Nm
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0–100 km/h: 2.36 seconds
Speed Evolution: Pushing the Limits
The Yangwang U9 has been steadily raising benchmarks since its debut:
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August 2024: Reached 375.12 km/h
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October 2024: Topped 391.94 km/h
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August 2025: New record at 472.41 km/h
To put this into perspective, the U9’s latest achievement surpasses the 350 km/h top speed of China’s high-speed rail, the fastest travel experience available to the public outside aviation.
Future Variants & Deliveries
Yangwang has already filed patents for a new U9 variant featuring quad-motors with doubled output per motor (555 kW each) — significantly higher than the 240 kW units in the current production model.
As of July 2025, BYD has delivered 173 units of the Yangwang U9, with six delivered in July alone, according to CnEVPost data. With its record-breaking speed of 472.41 km/h, the Yangwang U9 has firmly positioned itself as a symbol of Chinese engineering dominance in the EV supercar space. This achievement not only demonstrates BYD’s technical mastery but also sets the stage for the next generation of ultra-high-performance electric vehicles.
