Source: BYD

BYD (HKG:1211) officially opened its Zhengzhou all-terrain race track on 14 August 2025, describing it as the first urban racing facility built by a new energy vehicle brand in China.

The track, designed to let anyone experience off-road driving, includes a 1,758-metre main circuit with nine turns and a 550-metre straight-line acceleration lane.

It also features artificial sand dunes, water crossings, low-friction ice-simulation areas, and a hillside viewing platform. As part of the launch,

BYD announced its “New Race Track” initiative, which aims to bring millions of people into racing culture through immersive facilities and training programs.

The race track highlights BYD’s ambition to expand beyond manufacturing new energy vehicles into creating lifestyle experiences.

Company executives said the facility embodies the slogan “everyone’s track, fun for all” and will act as both a showcase for BYD’s four-wheel independent drive technologies and a driver-training academy.

Experience packages range from 599 yuan (c. $83) for an introductory session riding in the Yangwang U9 supercar on the main track, to 1,999 yuan (c. $278) and 6,666 yuan (c. $929) for packages that allow participants to drive the U9 themselves.

The company’s intent, according to BYD brand and PR general manager Li Yunfei, is to make automotive culture accessible rather than building “a playground for a few people.”

Source: BYD

The track’s scale and features exceed those of typical dealership test routes. Built on a decommissioned quarry, it includes a sand-incline test area boasting a 29.6-metre vertical drop and a 28-degree slope, which organizers claim is the largest elevation change available for civilian off-road vehicles in China.

Above the incline is a 300 m² panoramic viewing platform that shields spectators from sun and rain. Adjacent to the hill is a 70-metre floating water course in which the Yangwang U8 SUV demonstrates torque-vectoring control and 360-degree rotation in water.

Source: BYD

The main circuit’s straight allows the Yangwang U9 to reach approximately 220 km/h before braking into a corner, with a reported lap time of 1 minute 21 seconds.

Another section replicates low-traction surfaces for driver training. A 44-metre-diameter low-friction circular track uses 30,000 basalt bricks topped with a water film to mimic ice and snow.

Source: BYD

Movable skid platforms simulate sudden loss-of-control scenarios, enabling drivers to practice recovery techniques. BYD says the track helps drivers prepare for adverse weather by recreating conditions similar to wet asphalt or packed snow.

The facility also includes a simulated ice road made from wet polished concrete to train drivers in controlling vehicles during slides—an area Li Yunfei noted is particularly important given the number of accidents that occur in rain or snow.

The venue’s 27 themed zones replicate forest trails, desert dunes and rock crawls, giving both novices and experienced drivers opportunities to practice.

Source: BYD

Additional amenities include a 15,300 m² camping area with RV hookups, a 9,000 m² star-camping zone, and an on-site visitor centre with exhibitions on battery technology, simulators, and a café overlooking the course.

The site can host concerts and brand events, and there is no purchase requirement—visitors may bring their own BYD vehicles or book demonstration sessions.

The facility doubles as a research and training venue. BYD has installed remote-sensing cameras and telematics to collect data during customer drives, feeding into engineering teams to refine off-road calibration for electric powertrains and systems such as the DiSus-X active suspension.

Instructors trained in ice-driving schools teach braking, throttle control and weight transfer, making advanced techniques accessible to the public.

The company emphasizes that the track’s purpose extends beyond marketing, offering controlled environments for safety training that complement vehicle-integrated systems like anti-rollover control, hill-descent assist and torque vectoring.

The Zhengzhou track is BYD’s second all-terrain facility, following the Hefei location. A third site in Shaoxing is planned to open in 2026.

These projects form part of BYD’s 50 billion yuan (c. $7 billion) national investment in all-terrain tracks, with the long-term goal of adapting more than 2,000 natural terrains into off-road training zones over the next decade.

BYD sees the initiative as a way to differentiate itself from competitors such as NIO (NYSE:NIO), XPeng (NYSE:XPEV) and Geely’s Zeekr, which are also investing in experiential centers but have not yet matched BYD’s scale in off-road facilities.

BYD’s expansion into motorsport-style experiences reflects a broader trend among Chinese EV makers to blend entertainment with education.

By enabling the public to drive flagship vehicles like the Yangwang U8 and U9 in challenging environments, the company reinforces confidence in its technology and builds brand engagement.

Whether this approach will translate into higher sales remains uncertain, but the Zhengzhou all-terrain track marks a significant step in positioning BYD as not only a vehicle manufacturer but also a provider of immersive automotive experiences.

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