With its new fully electric luxury SUV IM LS7, Chinese car manufacturer SAIC is relying on state-of-the-art suspension technology from Germany: BILSTEIN has been selected as the exclusive shock absorber supplier and is providing a solution that meets the highest demands with its semi-active DampTronic® system. In this case, “system” means that BILSTEIN has developed and is supplying not only the actual shock absorbers but also the software for the suspension electronics.
The technology enables continuously adjustable damping behaviour – comfortable, safe and dynamic at the same time – and is therefore ideal for the requirements of the Chinese market. “Many families in China only own one car. Therefore, it has to be a real all-rounder: sporty, comfortable and safe. A conventional system cannot achieve this,” explains Jonathan Hase, Technical Product Manager Series Development at BILSTEIN.
Close international cooperation was a key factor in the success of the project: while the system was developed in Germany, the vehicle-specific application was implemented on site by the experienced development team at BILSTEIN Shanghai. The smooth and professional cooperation between the locations embodies BILSTEIN’s ‘One Company’ culture – with a clear goal: suspension solutions of the highest standard for global markets.
The IM LS7 project has not only produced a technical top result – it has also laid the foundation for a strong partnership. “We have received very good feedback from SAIC”, says Jonathan happily. “They were very satisfied with our technical approach and communication. They also reported this directly to our management in China – openly and with appreciation.”
But as is customary in the Chinese market, a successful project is followed by expectations for the next big chapter. “In China, you don’t sell cars based on technical status quo alone. You have to continue writing the story and come up with exciting innovations”, says Jonathan. “Semi-active systems such as our DampTronic® are now almost standard in the premium segment. Now a new story is needed.”
BILSTEIN is able to deliver exactly that: with DampTronic® II, DampTronic® Sky and DampTronic® Sky HC or DampTronic® X, BILSTEIN already has a number of powerful, new state-of-the-art technologies that take driving to a new level.