BYD's Denza B8 lifts one wheel while maintaining three-wheel driving mode. Credit: Autohome Understand China EV’s Market Real-time notifications when critical EV data is released All important data in one place 2,000,000+ data points Become a member Chinese automakers are rapidly expanding the capabilities of fully active suspension systems, with new SUVs from BYD, Huawei-backed Aito, and Li Auto demonstrating “three-wheel driving” functions that allow vehicles to continue moving after lifting one wheel off the ground. The latest example is the Denza B8 (Fang Cheng Bao Bao 8) Flash Charge Edition from BYD, which debuted with the company’s new Yunnian-P Ultra suspension system. During a media demonstration at BYD’s off-road proving ground, the SUV lifted one wheel completely off the ground while continuing to drive at a limited speed using the remaining three wheels. Denza B8 demonstrates Yunnian-P Ultra suspension technology. Off-road recovery and tyre replacement According to BYD’s demonstration, Yunnian-P Ultra adds three core functions: wheel-lift recovery, wheel-lift tyre replacement, and three-wheel driving. In tyre replacement mode, the suspension raises one wheel at a time, allowing the tyre to hang in the air without a traditional jack. BYD said the system can complete the lifting process in under a minute, while media demonstrations showed a tyre replacement process completed in 1 minute and 56 seconds. The suspension system supports up to 9 tons of lifting force, according to BYD’s presentation. The company also demonstrated a “trap recovery” scenario in which the vehicle intentionally became stuck in deep sand, then used suspension height adjustments to regain traction and exit the obstacle. The three-wheel driving mode is limited to 15 km/h and is designed for low-speed emergency situations or for crossing obstacles. During demonstrations, the Denza B8 crossed uneven bridge-like structures by lifting individual wheels to avoid chassis contact. The Denza B8 Flash Charge Edition also adds approximately 200 km of CLTC pure-electric range and an updated DiLink 5.0 interior software. We previously reported that the Denza B8 Flash Charge Edition starts at 419,800 yuan (61,600 USD), while the Denza B5 Flash Charge Edition starts at 305,800 yuan (44,900 USD). Huawei-backed Aito M9 is previewing three-wheel driving capability in China. Huawei-backed Aito joins the segment Huawei-backed Aito also previewed similar functionality for the new Aito M9, according to IThome. Videos shared by multiple Chinese bloggers showed the SUV lifting one front wheel while maintaining stable low-speed driving on three wheels. Huawei said the feature is supported by the M9’s fully active intelligent chassis, which can proactively adjust suspension settings based on road conditions. The updated M9 lineup is currently available for pre-order for 499,800 yuan (73,400 USD). Huawei executive Yu Chengdong previously stated that the new-generation M9 includes more than 140 technology upgrades. Li Auto’s active suspension system lifts one wheel for a tyre replacement demonstration. Li Auto’s Livis suspension Li Auto introduced comparable functions on the new Li Auto L9 Livis equipped with an 800V fully active hydraulic suspension system. As previously reported, the system supports single-wheel lifting, tyre replacement, and off-road recovery, as shown in a video. Li Auto said the suspension responds within milliseconds and can independently control all four wheels without a traditional anti-roll bar. China EV DataTracker data showed Li Auto L9 domestic sales reached 452 units in April 2026, down 88.1% year-on-year and 70.8% from March. Jan–Apr 2026 cumulative sales totalled 4,131 units. Li Auto L9 sales in China till April 2026. Credit: China EV DataTracker Active suspension competition expands Chinese automakers are increasingly using active suspension systems as a technology differentiator in premium SUVs and off-road vehicles. Current technical approaches vary between manufacturers. Li Auto and Aito use fully active hydraulic suspension systems, while BYD’s Yangwang U7 uses the electromagnetic Yunnian-Z system that directly controls suspension movement without hydraulic oil. Several systems now combine wheel lifting, tyre replacement, body levelling, and obstacle-crossing functions into integrated chassis control platforms aimed at both luxury SUV and off-road applications.
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