On September 25, BYD celebrated the nine millionth new energy vehicle rolling off the production line. The nine millionth car was a Yangwang U9 super car, a big contrast to the eight millionth vehicle which only ran off rolled off the production line 2 months ago, a BYD Dolphin from BYD’s newly opened Thailand Factory. At the current rate of production and sales, we can be assured that this year, we will also see the ten millionth BYD new energy vehicle and possibly even the eleven millionth.
The nine millionth BYD new energy vehicle was an example of the Yangwang U9 (see specs) electric sports car, which recently began deliveries. Resplendent in a cabernet red color the car has a guide price of 1.68 million yuan (239,100 USD). A supercar, it boasts four electric motors, each with 240 kW of power for a combined total of 960 kW. It can deliver a peak torque of 1680 Nm, boasts a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 2.36 seconds, and is able to cover 0-400 meters in 9.78 seconds, while the top speed is 309 km/h.
Equipped with the e4 platform and the DiSus X suspension system, it has an intelligent, fully active body control system complete with air springs and dual valve shock absorbers. All these gizmos help the Yangwang U9 with its twin party tricks. Firstly it’s the best dancing car in the house, and secondly if needs be it can drive back on just three wheels.
Providing the juice for the adventures is an 80 kWh battery pack, which, of course, uses the lithium iron phosphate blade battery. This provides the U9 with up to 450 km range using the CLTC measurement system. It can support dual-gun charging with up to 500 kW charging power, boosting SoC from 30% to 80% in ten minutes.
BYD claims that the U9 is the first mass-produced model in China to use carbon fiber body structural parts and that it uses the world’s largest monocoque carbon cabin. The material used is supposedly five to six times stronger than steel.
The Yangwang U9 is being produced in a new factory in Shenshan. It claims to be the first exclusive factory for new energy supercars in China. As part of the production process BYD utilizes a 2000-square-meter clean workshop with strictly controlled constant temperature and humidity for the production of the carbon cabin. Furthermore, the company says it uses experienced and highly skilled employees. Shenshan is a new city project located between Shenzhen and Shanwei in Guangdong province.
It should be noted that it took BYD from 2008, when its first new energy vehicle, the F3DM, was launched, until May 2021 for the company to produce its one-millionth new energy vehicle. Since then, it has produced another eight million in a little over three years!
Sources: BYD, Autohome, Fast Technolgy
