Chinese Car Manufacturers Race to Introduce Advanced Active Suspension, Can Drive 3 Wheels

JAKARTA - Chinese automotive manufacturers continue to compete to present advanced active suspension technology for premium SUVs and off-road vehicles. BYD, Aito which is supported by Huawei, to Li Auto now showcase the ability of "three-wheel drive", a feature that allows the car to keep moving even if one of its wheels is lifted from the surface.

The latest technology comes from Denza B8 Flash Charge Edition or Fang Cheng Bao Bao 8 owned by BYD. The SUV debuted with the latest Yunnian-P Ultra suspension system shown in BYD's offroad test session.

In the demonstration, the car was able to lift one wheel completely off the ground while still moving using the other three wheels. BYD explained, Yunnian-P Ultra has three main functions, namely vehicle recovery when the wheel is lifted, tire replacement without conventional jacks, and three-wheel drive mode.

In the tire replacement mode, the suspension can lift one wheel automatically until the tire hangs in the air. BYD claims that the lifting process can be done in less than a minute. In a media demonstration, tire replacement was completed in 1 minute 56 seconds.

According to the company's presentation, the suspension system is capable of supporting a lifting force of up to 9 tons. BYD also showed a scenario when the vehicle was deliberately trapped in deep sand, then used the suspension height setting to restore traction and get out of the trap.

Reported by Carnewschina, Friday, May 15, the three-wheel drive feature itself is limited to 15 km/h and is designed for emergency conditions or extreme terrain. During the demonstration, the Denza B8 crossed a structure resembling an uneven bridge by lifting certain wheels so that the chassis did not touch the surface.

On the other hand, Aito, which is supported by Huawei, also showcased similar technology on the latest Aito M9. Based on IThome's report, a number of videos shared by Chinese automotive bloggers show that the SUV is able to lift one of the front wheels while still being stable while driving using the other three wheels.

Huawei said the feature is supported by a full active smart chassis that can proactively adjust the suspension according to road conditions. The latest Aito M9 is currently open for pre-order with prices starting at 499,800 yuan.

Huawei executive, Yu Chengdong, previously said the latest generation of the M9 brought more than 140 technological improvements. Meanwhile, Li Auto also introduced similar capabilities in the latest Li Auto L9 Livis which uses a full 800V active hydraulic suspension system.

The technology supports one-wheel lifting, tire replacement, to vehicle recovery in off-road terrain. Li Auto claims its suspension system is able to respond in milliseconds and control all four wheels independently without requiring a conventional anti-roll bar.

However, China EV DataTracker data shows that Li Auto L9's domestic sales only reached 452 units in April 2026. The figure fell 88.1 percent compared to the same period last year and fell 70.8 percent compared to March 2026. Cumulatively, sales from January to April 2026 were recorded at 4,131 units.

Currently, Chinese automotive manufacturers are increasingly aggressive in utilizing active suspension systems as a technological differentiator in the premium SUV and off-road vehicle segments. The approach used is also different. Li Auto and Aito rely on full active hydraulic suspension systems, while BYD through Yangwang U7 uses Yunnian-Z electromagnetic technology that controls suspension movement without using hydraulic oil.