The YW 535 (Type 90 is the last in the family of derivatives of the original YW 531 (Type 63) tracked APC, China's first truly indigenous fighting vehicle. The YW 535 retains the same general appearance and layout as the rest of the vehicles in the series. However, it is wider and has a lower profile, and can be easily distinguished by having having flat hull sides that slope inward at the top. Its diesel fuel tanks are also located on each side of the rear hull to improve survivability. Another difference is that it is steered by a yoke-type steering wheel rather than the tillers used on previous models. The YW 535 can carry up to 13 fully-equipped troops in its rear compartment, which features three firing ports on each side. Main armament consists of a 12.7-mm Type 54 gun which is protected with a shield almost all around. A bank of four smoke grenade dischargers are located on each side of the front hull. As is the case with previous models, the YW 535 comes in a myriad of different variants some of which have been adopted by the PLA and others which have remained as prototypes. The only known export customer is Myanmar.

Production of the basic YW 535 (Type 90) began in 1991 and as many as 10 different vehicles have been designed as part of the series. Aside from the basic APC, these include the Type 91 IFV with a more powerful 360-hp engine and a turret similar to the Russian BMP-2. There is also an ATGM vehicle armed with Red Arrow 8 or 8E missiles, a command vehicle, 82-mm and 120-mm self-propelled mortars, a 122-mm self-propelled howitzer (equipped with a locally-produced version of the Russian D-30 gun), and 130-mm MLRS. Non-combat variants include an armored ambulance, armored recovery vehicle and mine scattering vehicle.