An all-electric hypercar has become the first production car to pass 500km/h, after reaching 503.17km/h on a closed stretch of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed International Road (E11) in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra Region. The speed has been officially recognised by the FIA, the global governing body for motor sport.
The car, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme from BYD’s luxury electric brand Yangwang, set the mark on 1 November 2026, according to the FIA. The result was announced on Friday, 6 November, and puts a UAE highway at the centre of one of the motoring world’s most closely watched records.
How the record run unfolded on the E11
Authorities closed a 10km section of the E11 for the attempt, which used a 7km straight. German racing driver Marc Basseng was at the wheel throughout.
According to the FIA, two earlier runs on 31 October reached a maximum of 490km/h. The car then went faster on the following day. The National reported that Basseng completed four runs over the two days, and that engineers adjusted the car before the second day to improve its performance.
The new figure is 6.95km/h faster than the 496.22km/h the same model reached in September 2025 at the ATP Papenburg testing facility in Germany, which is a closed track. The National reported that the Abu Dhabi run is the first time the record has been set on a public road.
The run also earned two Guinness World Records titles, both for a single-direction run: the highest speed by a production car, and the highest speed by an electric production car.
What powers the Yangwang U9 Xtreme
The car is built around an electric drivetrain designed for very high speeds. According to the FIA and The National, its main features include:
- Four independent electric motors with a combined output of more than 3,000 PS
- A 1,200-volt electrical architecture
- An advanced torque-vectoring system to manage power at each wheel
- Specialised high-performance tyres
The FIA said the result “represents a significant milestone in the continued development of electric vehicle technology.” Basseng said: “Breaking a world record once is extraordinary.”
Stella Li, BYD’s executive vice president, said the achievement “moves the benchmark for pure electric power even further ahead”, according to The National. BYD entered the UAE market in 2025.
Why UAE drivers should not try this at home
The run was a coordinated attempt on a road closed to other traffic, carried out with the support of the authorities. On a normal day, the same stretch of the E11 is posted at 160km/h.
According to The National, exceeding a UAE speed limit by more than 80km/h normally carries a Dh3,000 fine, 23 black points and 60 days of vehicle impoundment. Motorists are reminded that posted limits and radar enforcement apply on every highway, including long, straight desert roads in Al Dhafra.
Speed rules have been in the news in the UAE recently. Readers can also see our report on the new rule allowing authorised doctors and essential workers to exceed speed limits by 40km/h.
Quick facts
- Top speed: 503.17km/h, recognised by the FIA
- Date of record run: 1 November 2026
- Location: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed International Road (E11), Al Dhafra Region, Abu Dhabi
- Road used: 10km closed section, including a 7km straight
- Driver: Marc Basseng (Germany)
- Previous best for the same model: 496.22km/h, Germany, September 2025
- Guinness titles: Two, for production car and electric production car top speed in a single-direction run
Sources: FIA, The National
