BYD’s $3 Million, 3,000-HP Yangwang U9 Xtreme Crashes During High-Speed Test In China

The Yangwang U9 Xtreme (U9X), a $3 million, 3,000-horsepower supercar from BYD’s luxury division, has crashed in China, possibly while preparing for an attempt to exceed 500 km/h (311 mph) in the United Arab Emirates this month.

Footage and photos shared online capture the moment the Yangwang hypercar lost control before slamming into a barrier at a closed test track. Although the car’s rear axle was reportedly torn completely away, the driver is said to have walked away without any serious injuries.

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The crash comes 14 months after the model became the world’s fastest production car, making headlines with its record-breaking 496.22 km/h (308.4 mph) run at Germany’s ATP Papenburg test track in September 2025.

BYD had earlier announced plans to exceed the 500 km/h (311 mph) speed barrier with its Yangwang U9 Xtreme. First announced by BYD Vice President Stella Li, the proposed record attempt was scheduled to take place this November in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

At the time of writing, BYD has yet to issue an official statement concerning the incident. However, the crash in the company’s home country of China is not necessarily expected to affect the planned attempt to break the 500 km/h barrier this month in the UAE.

The U9 Xtreme is the track-focused version of BYD’s Yangwang U9 electric supercar. Featuring what BYD describes as the world’s first 1,200V ultra-high-voltage platform, the U9 Xtreme is powered by four high-speed electric motors that produce more than 3,000 horsepower.

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