The race for the fastest electric car just got even more exciting. Chinese automaker BYD has announced that its Yangwang U9 Track Edition has set a new world record for electric vehicle top speed.
In a test run at the Automotive Testing Papenburg (ATP) track in Germany on August 8, 2025, the U9 Track Edition reached a top speed of 472.41 km/h (293 mph). The record was achieved with professional driver Marc Basseng behind the wheel.
The High-Speed Run
The video shared by BYD shows the U9 quickly accelerating on the track. At one point, as the car touched its top speed, the front end became unstable, and Basseng had to fight the steering to keep control. Despite the tense moment, the record was successfully set.
Speaking after the run, Basseng said:
“Last year, I thought I had already reached my limit. I never expected to beat my own record so soon, but new technologies have made it possible.”
The U9 Track Edition is powered by four electric motors, each producing 555 kW, giving the car a combined output of over 2950 horsepower.
It uses the same e4 Platform and DiSus-X suspension system as the standard U9 but tuned for track performance.
The car runs on an 80 kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery.
Special high-performance Giti tires were developed to handle speeds close to 300 mph, with a unique tread design for extra grip and safety.
For comparison, the Rimac Nevera R, another record-setting electric hypercar, hit 263 mph in July 2025. With BYD’s U9 Track Edition now reaching 293 mph, it marks a huge step forward in EV performance.
While petrol-powered supercars have already crossed the 300 mph mark, this new achievement shows that electric cars are quickly catching up — and the race for even higher speeds is far from over.