World’s Fastest BYD Hypercar Crashes at High Speed During Testing in China
BYD’s Yangwang U9 Xtreme, the $3 million electric hypercar that previously reached nearly 500 km/h, has been badly damaged in a high-speed crash during testing in China.
Videos and images of the accident surfaced on November 2. They show the U9 Xtreme leaving its intended line on a closed track before hitting a barrier. The impact caused extensive damage, including the complete separation of the car’s rear axle.
Despite the severity of the crash, the driver reportedly escaped without serious injuries and managed to leave the vehicle without assistance. The central passenger compartment remained comparatively intact, while no battery fire was reported after the accident.
Was BYD Attempting Another World Record?
The exact purpose of the test run has not been officially confirmed.
However, reports suggest the U9 Xtreme may have been undergoing high-speed testing connected to BYD’s plans to exceed the 500 km/h barrier. The speed of the car at the time of the crash has also not been officially disclosed.
Therefore, reports claiming that the car crashed while actually setting a new world record should be treated with caution.
BYD had already announced plans for another top-speed attempt in November 2026.
Executive Vice President Stella Li said the company wanted the U9 Xtreme to exceed 500 km/h, with Dubai identified as the intended location.
However, BYD had not publicly confirmed the exact road, permissions or final date for the attempt as of late October.
U9 Xtreme Already Holds a Major Speed Record
The U9 Xtreme previously recorded a top speed of 496.22 km/h (308.3 mph) at the Automotive Testing Papenburg facility in Germany.
BYD describes the run as placing the U9 Xtreme at the top of the global automotive top-speed rankings.
The company subsequently decided to pursue the symbolic 500 km/h (310.7 mph) threshold after its testing team concluded that the car still had additional performance available following the record run.
Nearly 3,000 Horsepower
The U9 Xtreme sits at the top of BYD’s premium Yangwang performance lineup.
It uses four electric motors producing a combined 2,220 kW, equivalent to roughly 2,977 horsepower, and runs on a 1,200-volt electrical architecture.
The hypercar also uses specially developed high-speed tires, carbon-ceramic brakes and an aerodynamic package designed for extreme speeds.
Only 30 units of the U9 Xtreme are reportedly planned for production. The model has been valued at approximately $3 million.
It remains unclear whether the crash will affect BYD’s planned attempt to cross 500 km/h. The automaker has not yet publicly announced a revised schedule or confirmed the cause of the accident.
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