BYD Hypercar Crashes During High-Speed Test; Driver Survives

Technology · First reported 3 Nov, 08:04 · Updated 08:31

Image: Wikimedia Commons · Ysherazi · CC BY-SA 4.0

BYD released footage of its YANGWANG U9 Xtreme crashing during a closed-circuit test. The driver survived without serious injuries, and BYD is reportedly preparing another attempt to exceed 500 km/h.

BYD-released footage shows the YANGWANG U9 Xtreme hitting a fence on a closed circuit; BYD said it was travelling between 420 and 450 km/h.
The driver was medically assessed and did not suffer serious injuries; the centre report says the passenger cell protected the driver.
The car later recorded 496.22 km/h at a German test track, but the article says the run did not qualify as a world record because it was not averaged across two opposite-direction runs.

Summary written by Lux AI from 2 articles

Key facts

Crash speed reported by BYD: 420–450 km/h
Driver: Medically assessed; no serious injuries reported
Later speed recorded: 496.22 km/h
Test track: ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg, Germany
Planned target: BYD was preparing an attempt to exceed 500 km/h; timing and location were unconfirmed