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BYD's 503 km/h run meets a different French engineering brief

TF1's report contrasts the Chinese electric supercar's speed record with Peugeot's emphasis on handling and Renault's pursuit of longer range.

Channel: TF1 INFO ·

FranceStory of November 12, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? One of TF1 INFO's most watched videos since yesterday, with 216,605 views.

TF1 INFO: The news division of TF1, a private French television channel owned by the Bouygues group. 1.8M subscribers and 2B views.

😮 503 km/h : cette voiture électrique bat un record de vitesse vertigineux !｜TF1 INFO

A Chinese electric supercar hurtles down a straight in Abu Dhabi, reaching 503 km/h, according to France's TF1 INFO television news service. But the report's question is what that achievement means for cars people actually buy.

The car is the Yangwang U9, from BYD's high-end brand. Footage credited to the manufacturer supplies the record run, which the broadcaster presents as both an engineering achievement and a marketing opportunity.

Dorothée Bonassies, BYD France's managing director, says pushing the technology helps make batteries more efficient for future production cars. In her account, the value of the exercise extends beyond the speedometer.

The report then turns to French manufacturers with different priorities. Testing a Peugeot on the road, Stellantis sports-vehicle project chief Christophe Auriault emphasizes precise handling, cornering and safety rather than outright speed in a straight line.

Renault aerodynamic engineer Jocelyn Merigeault identifies range as the central concern: being able to keep driving without stopping to recharge. The report illustrates that approach with a Renault prototype it says traveled 1,000 kilometers on a single charge.

These are the manufacturers' explanations of their engineering priorities, not a head-to-head test establishing which has the better battery technology. The closing contrast is more everyday: TF1 puts the Chinese car's price at €2.7 million, then reminds viewers that France's motorway speed limit is 130 km/h.

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