Overview
- Video posted by BYD and shared by CarNewsChina this week shows the U9 Xtreme lose control on a banked turn and strike barriers, and BYD says the driver suffered no serious injuries after a medical exam.
- BYD and media reports place the crash during a 420–450 km/h evaluation run, and the car sustained heavy structural damage including a ripped rear subframe, major front-end damage, and a torn driver’s door.
- After the damaged car’s run BYD conducted another attempt that reached 457.89 km/h (284.5 mph), which the company reported as part of ongoing high-speed testing.
- Only 30 U9 Xtreme examples are being built, so the likely write-off of one vehicle reduces available customer units and removes a key test asset that could affect delivery timing and future record attempts.
- The U9 Xtreme uses a 1,200V quad-motor architecture and a high-discharge LFP pack that BYD says delivers nearly 3,000 hp, and the company continues to plan a certified 500 km/h run in Dubai though the crash may alter the campaign’s schedule.