An electric supercar from BYD reportedly reached 312.66 mph on public roads in the United Arab Emirates' capital, Abu Dhabi. The milestone would make the Yangwang U9 Xtreme the first production model to travel faster than 500 kilometers per hour (310.69 mph).
Here's what to know
Auto bloggers reported the run Friday, according to CarNewsChina. The result surpassed the U9 Xtreme's previous benchmark by 4.32 mph (6.95 km/h).
At that speed, the U9 Xtreme travels 140 meters (459 feet) per second.
High temperatures, dust, and crosswinds were among the obstacles posed by the desert setting. Hu Xiaoqing, general manager of the Yangwang Sales Division, announced the challenge, which started Nov. 1.
In September 2025, the U9 Xtreme reached 308.34 mph (496.22 km/h) at Germany's ATP Papenburg testing facility, a closed test track.
More background
Within the Yangwang U9 supercar line, the Xtreme is the higher-performance version.
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The U9 Xtreme also ran a lap of Germany's Nürburgring Nordschleife in 6 minutes, 59.157 seconds. CarNewsChina reported that no other mass-produced electric supercar has gone under seven minutes there.
The U9 Xtreme has a 1,200-volt platform and four electric motors with a maximum rotational speed of 30,000 revolutions per minute. Together, the motors deliver 2,220 kilowatts, or 2,977 horsepower.
A tall rear spoiler mounted on swan-neck supports and a hood with two channels are among the aerodynamic upgrades BYD made to distinguish the Xtreme from the standard U9. The changes also include a rear diffuser and a wide front splitter built from carbon fiber.
What's being done?
Preparing the U9 Xtreme for exceptionally high speeds involved more than aerodynamic changes. Per CarNewsChina, BYD also optimized its body-control technology, cooling setup, brakes, and tires for that purpose.
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Still, the U9 Xtreme will remain out of reach for most drivers. BYD has confirmed a worldwide production cap of 30 units, each equipped with a torque-vectoring system that recalculates up to 100 times each second.
Where can I learn more?
The U9 Xtreme is just one of BYD's high-powered vehicles.
• In China, the Denza Z9 GT delivers 1,140 horsepower for about $50,000.
• Dubai Police added a 1,197-horsepower Yangwang U8 that can float and spin 360 degrees.
• In China, BYD's Formula S offers five-minute charging from $28,000, undercutting Tesla's Model 3.
• In France, BYD's ATTO 8 combines seven seats and 775 horsepower with nine-minute charging.
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