The Yangwang U8L, BYD’s luxury SUV, has added another chapter to its list of resistance demonstrations. Already known for its unusual functions, such as lateral displacement, rotation around its axis and buoyancy, the model underwent extreme testing simulating the fall of a large palm tree onto the roof of a car.
- From electric SUVs to supercars: The launches that got people talking and the machines that will be coming in 2026
The test, conducted by the automaker itself, used a real palm tree the size of a building. Engineers lifted the tree several times, both vertically and at an angle, and then dropped it three times onto the U8L from progressively greater heights.
According to BYD, the palm tree’s impact reached 50.4 kilojoules, or about 54,000 Newton metres—a force that Chinese media and the Carscoops website have compared to an air conditioning unit falling from the top of a 40-story building.
Despite the severity, the SUV only sustained damage to the roof rail. The driver’s door continued to open normally, all side windows remained intact and there was no damage to the suspension or wheels.
The U8L, an extended-wheelbase version of the Yangwang U8, has already attracted attention for its combination of supercar power, a high-level interior design – compared even to Rolls-Royce models – and technology uncommon in the segment. BYD rated the test as part of a campaign to prove that the SUV is, according to the brand, “the most luxurious and resistant vehicle ever made in China.”