BYD aims to exceed 500 km/h, but it needs a “15 km long road” for its 3,000 CV electric vehicle.

30/10/2026 11:30

Updated to

30/10/2026 11:30

BYD keeps pushing forward; after introducing in Europe a 4x4 SUV as good as the Defender that we’ve already tested, it confirmed its Denza Z sports car with up to 1,604 horsepower will arrive in Spain before the end of the year.

And when it comes to sports cars, BYD and its luxury brand Yangwang — which challenges Rolls Royce with its upcoming 1,000-horsepower electric sedan — also dominate the world: they do so with the Yangwang U9 Extreme, the fastest car in the world, which reached 496.22 km/h last year… surpassing the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+’s 490.5 km/h. Now, they aim to exceed 500 km/h.

BYD’s CEO seeks a “15 km straight road” to break the 500 km/h barrier

Stella Li, BYD’s executive vice president, was very clear about breaking the 500 km mark, a goal the company aims to achieve this November in Dubai. In an interview with the local media outlet Business SNA in Abu Dhabi — watch the video above — Li cited the need for a 15 km-long road as the reason for choosing this location: “We conducted the test in Germany and achieved 496.22 km/h. Then we chose Dubai because we need a road that’s 15 km long, so we want to break this world record in Dubai in November.”

Li stated that the company would discuss potential locations with local authorities for attempting this new world speed record. However, so far, BYD has not specified either a date or a location for the attempt.

Dubai or Germany? BYD is undecided

Yet that attempt to exceed 500 km/h in Dubai directly contradicts the statements made by BYD’s CEO, Li Yunfei, to the Carnewschina media outlet at the Goodwood Festival.

Yunfei said at the time that they would make another attempt at the Automotive Testing Papenburg in Germany, where the 3,108 CV Yangwang U9 Extreme achieved its current record of 496.22 km. He also mentioned that they would attempt it again next November.

What is clear, however, is that with a 15 km track or similar circuit, BYD is indeed capable of reaching speeds over 500 km/h.

It’s no coincidence that the U9 Xtreme, thanks to its 3,018 CV, is one of the most powerful vehicles in the world—whether electric or not. It features four electric motors, each delivering 555 kW/755 CV, along with diffusers, carbon fiber spoilers, semi-slick tires, and carbon-ceramic disc brakes with titanium calipers. This is because it not only needs to exceed 500 km/h but also must be able to stop. At such speeds, it can cover over 138 meters per second.