Chinese brand BYD debuts world's fastest car and EV that charges in 5 minutes - 'Watershed moment'

Felix Reeves
Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:07:53 +0000

Chinese giant BYD has unveiled several new models at the Beijing Auto Show as it continues to show off new vehicle "breakthroughs".

BYD took centre stage at the Beijing Auto Show with new launches and concepts from its main brand, as well as its sister marques, Denza, Fangchengbao and Yangwang.

The Chinese brand unveiled the third-generation model of its Yuan Plus (Atto 3), which is one of BYD's most popular models around the world, with more than 1.1 million sales.

BYD unveiled the third-generation with a new design, groundbreaking God's Eye B driving assistance system and Flash Charging capabilities.

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The recently-launched technology allows vehicles to charge from 10 to 70 per cent in just five minutes thanks to 1,500kW of charging power.

Drivers will only have to wait nine minutes to charge the car from 10 per cent to 97 per cent, while a 12-minute wait is enough to charge from 20 per cent to 97 per cent in freezing -30C temperatures.

The Atto 3 will have a second-generation Blade Battery and a combined range of 630km (391 miles), according to Chinese specifications.

Before its release, motorists in the UK can get their hands on the BYD Atto 3 EVO, with 316-miles of range for a price tag of £38,990.

Stella Li, executive vice president of BYD, said: "The Beijing Auto Show is the perfect moment for BYD to demonstrate our innovative technologies and the difference they can make to our vehicles and our customers.

"On all our brands' show stands, from BYD itself to Fangchengbao, Denza and Yangwang, we have a line-up that shows how our commitment to research and development is leading the way not just in China, but globally."

BYD's premium technology-oriented sub-brand unveiled the Denza Z, which it describes as the world's first intelligent electric supercar.

The soft-top sports car has been designed with an intelligent electromagnetic body-control system to cope with the high performance of the Z.

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Motorists will be presented with a supercar packed with more than 1,000 horsepower and an acceleration time from 0-100km/h of less than two seconds.

The Denza Z has already been tested at the iconic Nürburgring Nordschleife and will be prepared for a full global launch at the Goodwood Festival of Speed later this year.

BYD has described the impending launch of the Denza Z as "a watershed moment for the global auto industry", adding that it would compete directly with established European manufacturers.

Another of BYD's sister brands, Yangwang, has started production of the U9 Xtreme, which is the fastest car on the planet.

The U9 completed a record lap of the Nürburgring in just six minutes and 59 seconds, recording a staggering top speed of 496.22km/h.

Yangwang's U9 Xtreme will be produced in "The Dawn" variation and will feature a fully customisable design for motorists looking to get behind the wheel of the fastest car in the world.

Fangchengbao has debuted its first new-energy sedans, including the Formula S series and its Formula X production sports car.

Despite only launching in 2023, Fangchengbao has seen strong interest in the brand, with its Bao 5 and Bao 8 models securing more than 50,000 sales per month by the end of 2025.