Tesla has silently upgraded the suspension system in its China-made Model Y crossovers at its Shanghai plant, the company announced on Weibo. The upgrade has been in production for two months, and all Model Ys manufactured at the plant since January 1, 2023, are equipped with the optimized elastic and damping components in the suspension system.
The improved suspension system reduces bumps at low speeds, resulting in a more stable ride at high speeds. The stiffness of the top of the shock absorbers has increased by 50 percent, while spring stiffness has been reduced, resulting in a smoother ride. Tesla also adjusted the suspension vibration frequency to make the ride less prone to causing motion sickness in both children and the elderly.
The China-made Model Y has become a popular choice in the country due to its sporty DNA and spaciousness, with 315,314 retail sales in China in 2022, ranking No. 1 in sales of premium SUVs with a starting price above RMB 300,000.
Tesla lowered the prices of its Model 3 and Model Y lineup in China on January 6, 2023, bringing the starting price of the entry-level Model Y down to RMB 259,900. However, on February 10, the price of the entry-level Model Y was raised to RMB 261,900, with the other two variants’ prices also increasing by RMB 2,000 on February 17.
While the Shanghai plant upgraded the Model Y suspension system, Tesla halted some production at the facility to revamp it for the Chinese market’s new version of the Model 3, as reported by Bloomberg on February 15. The company sold 66,051 China-made vehicles in January, including 39,208 exported vehicles and 26,843 delivered vehicles in China, according to the China Passenger Car Association’s data.
