BYD has released footage showing its $3.9 million Yangwang U9 Xtreme hypercar involved in a severe crash during a high-speed test. The incident occurred on a closed circuit while the car was traveling between 420 and 450 km/h.
The video, which circulated on social media, depicts the hypercar colliding with a fence, then ricocheting across the track before coming to a halt in pieces. Miraculously, the driver underwent a medical assessment and sustained no serious injuries.
The crash took place in the lead-up to BYD's attempt to set a world record. The Yangwang U9 Xtreme achieved an unofficial speed record of 496.22 km/h at the ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg test track in Germany in September of the previous year. To be officially recognized as a world record, a car's speed must be averaged over two runs in opposite directions, a feat not possible at the banked Papenburg track.
The Yangwang U9 Xtreme is an enhanced version of the U9, which is currently available in China. The Xtreme model features an updated powertrain, battery, tires, and suspension. Priced at $3.9 million (approximately $5.6 million USD) at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, only 30 units of the hypercar are slated for global production. It is exclusively left-hand drive and not officially sold in Australia.
BYD believes its 2,977-horsepower hypercar has more performance potential. The company plans to attempt to exceed the 500 km/h barrier, with previous statements from BYD's executive vice president Stella Li indicating Dubai as a potential location for the world-record run. The exact timing and location of this upcoming attempt are yet to be confirmed, with BYD reportedly working with officials to secure a suitable 15-km stretch of road.