KATHMANDU: BYD has set a new record in the electric vehicle market. The company’s Yangwang U9 Track Edition has become the fastest EV in the world, reaching a top speed of 472.4 km/h.
This achievement places the U9 very close to the world’s fastest petrol cars. For comparison, the Bugatti Chiron Supersports 300+ hit 489 km/h in 2019.
The standard U9 supercar already stood out with its dual-motor system that produces 1,287 hp. It can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in just 2.36 seconds, ranking among the quickest cars in the world.
The new Track Edition goes even further. It features a quad-motor setup, with each motor generating 744 hp. In total, it produces a massive 2,960 hp, powering all four wheels.
In an earlier test, the standard U9 reached 391.94 km/h. That was not enough to surpass the Rimac Nevera, which held the record at 431.45 km/h. The Track Edition has now broken that barrier, taking BYD to the top of the EV speed chart.
BYD released footage of the record run on its global YouTube channel. The car showed no sign of slowing as it approached its peak speed.
Pricing for the Track Edition has not been announced. However, the regular U9 costs around USD 230,000, making it one of the most expensive cars produced in China.
Last year, BYD overtook Tesla to become the world’s largest producer of electric vehicles by volume. Chinese EVs are often more affordable and equipped with advanced technology compared to many global brands.
Now, they are proving to be faster as well.
