The Yangwang U9 Track Edition. Photo from BYD

Yangwang, BYD’s high-end sub-brand, set a new world top-speed record for electric vehicles (EVs) when its U9 Track Edition reached a speed of 472.41 km/h at the ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg test track in Papenburg, Germany, on Aug. 8.

The record was set by German professional driver Marc Basseng, who also held the previous global EV speed record set in 2024. “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 made it possible,” he said.

Yangwang says the U9 Track Edition combines advanced technologies developed through BYD’s research efforts. It is based on the same e4 platform and DiSus-X core technical architecture as the Yangwang U9 sold in China.

With its global headquarters in Pingshan District, BYD invested 54.2 billion yuan in research and development in 2024, a 36% increase year on year. In 2025, the company introduced several new technologies, including the “God’s Eye” advanced driver-assistance system, the “Super e-Platform” designed to drastically shorten charging time for EVs, and the Lingyuan integrated vehicle-mounted drone system, co-developed with DJI.

BYD’s global headquarters in Pingshan District. File photo