BYD executive vice president Stella Li said the 2,220 kW Yangwang U9 Xtreme will attempt to exceed 500 km/h in Dubai this November. Li said the team needed “a street with 15 kilometres” and would approach local police to identify a suitable location. BYD has not publicly confirmed a selected road, the necessary permissions, or a proposed attempt date.

The plan differs from our July 14 report, which anticipated another run at Germany’s Automotive Testing Papenburg (ATP). The reports point to different possible venues, but neither establishes where the next attempt will take place.

What Stella Li said about Dubai

In a July 6 interview with Business SNA in Abu Dhabi, Li discussed the U9 Xtreme’s previous speed run and BYD’s plan for another attempt:

“We did a test in Germany; it’s 496.22 kilometres per hour. Then we chose Dubai… we need a street with 15 kilometres, then we want to do this world record in Dubai in November.”

Li said the team would approach local police to identify a suitable road. Her comments establish Dubai as BYD’s intended location, but the company has not publicly confirmed a selected road, the necessary permissions, or a planned attempt date.

On July 14, we reported a separate conversation with BYD brand general manager Li Yunfei at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where another attempt at Germany’s Automotive Testing Papenburg (ATP) was anticipated. The two reports point to different possible venues, and BYD has yet to confirm the final location.

How close is 500 km/h?

The U9 Xtreme reached 496.22 km/h (308.33 mph) at ATP on September 14, 2025, with racing driver Marc Basseng behind the wheel. Its four electric motors deliver 2,220 kW, equivalent to about 2,977 hp.

For comparison, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ reached 490.48 km/h (304.77 mph) in a single-direction run in 2019. The Koenigsegg Agera RS recorded a two-way average of 447.19 km/h (277.87 mph) in 2017. Its result uses a different measurement method from the single-direction peak speeds recorded by the Bugatti and Yangwang.

The U9 Xtreme needs another 3.78 km/h to reach 500 km/h. At 496.22 km/h, it covers about 138 metres per second, making the available distance for acceleration and braking an important consideration.

A long straight alone does not establish that a road is suitable for a high-speed run. Surface conditions, wind, tyre performance, aerodynamic stability and braking distance all matter. A public-road attempt would also require appropriate traffic restrictions and safety arrangements. These are general considerations, not evidence that ATP prevented a faster run or that Dubai offers better conditions.

Yangwang’s wider international push

Yangwang confirmed the overseas name for its new sedan as Altior on October 27. Called Dingyao in China and previously linked to the development codename HU, the sedan is reportedly about 5,500 mm long, with a 3,350 mm wheelbase. Teaser images show rear-hinged rear doors and roof-mounted LiDAR. Its production powertrain, battery capacity, range and price remain unconfirmed.

The sedan is expected to debut overseas in Dubai in early November, with reports pointing to around November 5. No public announcement links the launch to the U9 Xtreme’s speed-record attempt.

Yangwang already sells the U8 in the UAE through Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility. In Australia, the U8 received Australian Design Rule (ADR) type approval in October. The approval record lists a combined system output of 880 kW from its petrol engine and four electric motors. This is a regulatory step toward a possible Australian launch, not confirmation of a retail launch date or price.

The venue remains unconfirmed

Li named Dubai as the intended location for a November attempt, while our July report anticipated a return to Germany. BYD has not publicly confirmed the selected venue, a road closure, the necessary permissions or a firm date.

The Altior’s expected UAE debut and the U8’s Australian approval provide context for Yangwang’s overseas activity, but neither connects to the proposed speed run. A confirmed venue and date remain the key missing details.

For a closer look at the high-speed run that set up the 500 km/h target, watch the Yangwang U9 Xtreme’s 496.22 km/h onboard record run at Papenburg, with Marc Basseng behind the wheel.