With the domination of China in a now vibrant EV market, are we going to see a revolution in the supercar sector? Would you fancy owning a Chinese supercar?
In recent years, both China and South Korea have emerged as serious players in the EV market and have begun to turn their attention to the supercar sector, traditionally the domain of European manufacturers. How serious are these cars and do we see them as mere pretenders, or do the likes of Ferrari, Aston Martin and Lamborghini have something to worry about?
BYD Yangwang U9
BYD is a leading Chinese automaker and is rapidly getting a name in the UK thanks to some heavy marketing activity. Launched in 2024, the Yangwang U9 was received as a technological marvel. Equipped with four electric motors delivering 1200 horsepower, the U9 can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 2.36 seconds. Great numbers for a supercar, but what sets the U9 apart is its revolutionary DiSus-X suspension system which allows the car to jump over any oncoming bumps in the road giving the car outstanding control and ride handling. DiSus-X is a full-active vehicle control system that gives it a real time, independent vertical adjustment of each of the car’s wheels using advanced software algorithms. The car is packed with sensors including accelerometers, gyroscopes and pressure sensors which continuously monitor road conditions, the vehicle’s motion, and the driver’s behaviour. The car can then calculate in a milliseconds the optimum position of the wheel providing an unparalleled degree of grip and comfort. It is even capable of ‘jumping’ over bumps by compressing and rebounding wheels to literally lift the car off the ground while moving, smoothing out the road and keeping the car stable during cornering at speed.
The Yangwang U9 is priced at approximately £190,000 which puts it on a par with an Aston Martin DB12, Porsche 911 GT3 RS or a Ferrari Roma, When you compare it to the hybrid Ferrari SF90, which costs a base £374,000 before you even consider additional options, then the U9 looks a bargain. It gets even more interesting when compared to the long awaited fully EV Ferrari Electtrica which we expect to be announced on October 9th 2025, with an estimated starting price of £430,000. Even with import tariffs and taxes, the Yangwang U9 would be a very tempting opportunity for anyone wanting an EV supercar.
There are However currently no plans to enter the U9 into the European market. Seen as very much a Chinese supercar for the Chinese market, the Yangwang U9 has shipped about 100 cars so far, none of which we believe have made their way to the UK. It does show a serious commitment to a supercar future, so we may well see them on the London streets yet.
Hyptec SSR
This is an exciting EV supercar from the Chinese manufacturer GAC Aion. It boasts a 900kW power output and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in as little as 1.9 seconds. This is now an old kid on the block, having been initially launched in 2022 with a relatively little sales base. Approximately 30 units have been sold, the majority in China, however with 2 delivered to Thailand, it marks an interesting move into a foreign market. As with other Chinese EV cars, it will be subject to import tariffs if they ever wanted to test the European market. The thought is not totally out of the question, with some reports suggesting GAC are seriously considering setting up a local European manufacturing centre to help mitigate any additional costs. This is something European EV supercar manufacturers are understandably nervous of as the GAC cost could significantly undercut any European EV offer. The Hyptec SSR has a starting price of about £150,000.
