Speeds are getting even nuttier in the world of battery electric vehicles. Rimac's absurdly quick Nevera R owns its fair share of outright straight-line records, although internal combustion supercar manufacturer Koenigsegg has taken one particular record back. Now, a relative newcomer from China has just joined the fight by taking the electric vehicle top speed crown.
At least, that's what BYD claims in a YouTube published this morning. The clip shows its Yangwang U9 Track Edition test vehicle hitting a top speed of 472.41 kmh, or 293 mph for those using imperial measurements. The record was set on the notorious Automotive Testing Papenburg high-speed track in Germany on August 8, 2025, and will now serve as the top speed standard by which other EV challengers are graded.
The extraordinary video shows test driver Marc Basseng entering ATP Papenburg and attempting to get some heat in the tires before spooling up the electric supercar to speeds upwards of 180 mph on the banked wall. Solidly centered on level ground, Basseng goes wide-open and continues accelerating rapidly past 280 mph, topping out at 293 mph. The front-end of the supercar appears to get squirrely right as it hits top speed, forcing Basseng to wrestle with the steering wheel as the car shoots across three track lanes. Talk about a code brown moment.
"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 to BYD.
The Yangwang U9 Track Edition uses the same e4 Platform and DiSus-X core technical architecture as the traditional U9, but with a lot more thrust. The base model U9 featured a 1287-hp dual-motor setup, while the Track Edition sports a quad-motor setup delivering 555 kW per motor and a total power exceeding 2958 hp. BYD says that creates a power-to-weight ratio of 1200 hp per ton or around 1.9 hp per pound. U9 Track Edition units add an enhanced, optional carbon-fiber front splitter to the aerodynamic mix. Even so, there is a considerable amount of front-end lift depicted in the video, indicating that some extra aerodynamic stability changes could be in order.
The core of the U9 Track Edition is reportedly the same 80 kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery pack that is in regular U9 models. Similarly, its torque-vectoring system, vertical suspension adjustment, and unorthodox body-roll control system remain intact on the track-focused model. It is not entirely surprising that even the lesser-equipped U9 model was able to set a 7:17.900 lap around the Nurburgring Nordschleife.
Tire integrity at 293 mph is a critical safety feature and BYD say it worked with Giti Tire to develop a semi-slick compound capable of withstanding speeds of nearly 300 mph. BYD's own release claims the tires feature a "bespoke tread design" and "innovative knurling treatment" where it meets the rim. Additionally, BYD says it used a high-viscosity lubricant to minimize relative slippage between the tire and the rim during hard acceleration or braking.
Internal combustion cars have soared past 300 MPH, but EVs are still pursuing that benchmark. The Rimac Nevera R managed to hit a top speed of 263 mph in July 2025 as part of its own run for records. At 293 MPH, BYD and its Yangwang U9 Track Edition are claiming a major leap in EV top speedy. That said, we expect there will be challengers to this record very soon.
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