A 3,000-Horsepower Chinese Electric Hypercar Makes Its US Debut
This electric monster isn’t officially sold in America, but its short visit is enough to shake up the hypercar world
Chinese car brands are still missing from American showrooms, but that did not stop one extreme electric hypercar from showing up anyway. The BYD Yangwang U9, a 3,000-horsepower electric monster from China, has quietly arrived in the United States. No official launch. No dealerships. Just one owner and a lot of attention.
The car was brought to Miami by British car collector Richard Skelhorn. He shared the moment on social media, claiming this was the first time the Yangwang U9 had ever been seen on U.S. roads. Considering how rare Chinese performance cars are in America, it instantly caught the attention of car fans.
Skelhorn says the U9 is only visiting. He bought the car back in August and first registered it in Dubai. Because of U.S. import rules, the hypercar can stay in the country for up to one year and then must leave. In other words, it is here on a temporary pass. Still, even a short visit is enough to show what Chinese EV makers are capable of.
View this post on Instagram
And the numbers are hard to ignore.
The Yangwang U9 Xtreme uses four electric motors, one at each wheel. Together, they produce a massive 3,000 horsepower. That is more power than most hypercars on the planet, including the Rimac Nevera R, which is already known as one of the fastest electric cars ever built. At this level, the old horsepower race almost stops making sense, but the U9 proves how far electric performance has come.
BYD also makes some bold speed claims. The company says the U9 Xtreme can reach a top speed of 496.22 km/h, or around 308 mph. If that figure holds up, it would put the car ahead of machines like the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+. On top of that, BYD claims the U9 became the first production electric sports car to lap the Nürburgring in under seven minutes, with a reported time of 6:59.157. That is a serious milestone in the EV world.
But the U9 is not only about speed. It is also packed with tech that feels almost unreal.
One feature that grabbed everyone’s attention is BYD’s DiSus-X suspension system. This setup allows the car to actively control each wheel. In a video shared by Skelhorn, the U9 can be seen hopping off the ground. Yes, actually jumping. BYD says this system helps the car deal with things like potholes and rough surfaces, but for many people, it feels more like a bold tech showcase designed to turn heads.
Interestingly, BYD is not stopping there. The Yangwang U8, which is the U9’s SUV sibling, can actually drive through water. It sounds strange, but the idea is to help in extreme situations like flooding.
Even with all this innovation, Americans should not expect to buy a Yangwang anytime soon. Political tension and heavy tariffs continue to block Chinese cars from entering the U.S. market. BYD knows this and has focused on other regions instead. Europe, in particular, has welcomed models like the Atto 3 and Dolphin, which are selling well.
That strategy is clearly working. BYD recently passed Tesla to become the world’s best-selling electric vehicle brand. The Yangwang U9 may only be a visitor in the U.S., but its presence sends a strong message. Chinese automakers are no longer just competing. They are pushing boundaries and forcing the world to pay attention.
