Automotive supplier, Marelli, is presenting its portfolio of active suspension and chassis technologies at Auto China 2026 in Beijing, to demonstrate to visitors how vehicle dynamics technologies can contribute to safety, performance and ride comfort across multiple vehicle segments.
Marelli’s stand at the exhibition, running from 24 April to 3 May at the New China International Exhibition Centre in Beijing, features three principal systems: the Active Camber system, the Electromechanical Lifter, and the Hybrid Electromechanical Suspension (HES).
Piero Monchiero, advanced innovation VP of Marelli’s Ride Dynamics business, said of the showcase, “The importance of vehicle dynamics technology spans all propulsion systems, giving automakers a decisive tool to drive vehicle distinctiveness while offering end users a wide range of personalisation options. This is particularly evident in China, where customer expectations for vehicle dynamics and ride comfort continue to rise.”
Active Camber
The Active Camber system is designed to enhance vehicle stability by correcting wheel camber in real time. Maintaining optimal camber angles improves the tyres’ contact with the road, affecting grip, braking, acceleration and tyre wear.
The system uses an electronically controlled smart actuator with integrated sensors that continuously monitor the road surface ahead. An intelligent control unit processes data every millisecond and automatically adjusts the wheel angles in real time, reducing body movement and increasing grip for more precise handling and cornering.
Electromechanical Lifter
Also on display is the Electromechanical Lifter, a fully electromechanical device integrated into the shock absorber that can adjust vehicle height. A smart actuator delivers automatic levelling functionality, to maintain vehicle balance across varying conditions.
The system targets sports cars, performance cars and sporty SUVs. For performance cars, it can raise the vehicle to negotiate garage ramps, speed bumps or snowy roads. On sporty SUVs, the technology adjusts the vehicle setup above certain speeds to improve aerodynamics by minimising drag. The Electromechanical Lifter is oil-free, lightweight and is designed for straightforward integration.
Hybrid Electromechanical Suspension (HES)
The HES combines full-active actuator technology with semi-active dampers is designed to deliver high-end driving dynamics while aiming to maintain cost efficiency. Controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU), the system integrates fully active electromechanical actuators applied to the front suspension, providing damping or self-generating reactive forces to minimise roll, pitch, yaw and vibration. These actuators are paired with semi-active rear shock absorbers that optimise vertical dynamic response.
The HES draws on the architecture of Marelli’s Fully Active Electromechanical Suspension, which will also be displayed at Auto China. That oil-free system uses four electronically controlled actuators to modulate suspension and damping parameters at each wheel in real time. According to Marelli, data is processed in milliseconds through a smart algorithm to adapt to road irregularities and driving conditions.
Both active electromechanical suspension systems are also designed to reduce motion sickness, which Marelli expects to become more relevant as autonomous driving increases onboard activities such as reading and screen use. According to the company, the systems can recover kinetic energy and deliver up to 80% energy efficiency compared with passive or semi-active systems.
