Yijing X9 Boosts Air Suspension Durability with Aluminum-Welded Air Chambers, Prioritizing Redundant Design Over Extended Warranty

Zeng Qinglin, General Manager of the Yijing automotive brand, addressed concerns regarding the durability of air suspension systems. He noted that some brands, after receiving customer feedback about air leaks causing vehicles to become immobilized, responded by offering an extended warranty of 8 years or 160,000 kilometers—a move widely recognized by consumers. However, Zeng emphasized that Yijing prefers enhancing durability redundancy at the R&D stage rather than relying on post-sale extended warranties. Zeng explained that currently, there are two mainstream manufacturing approaches for the high-pressure gas chambers inside air springs: plastic-welded air chambers and aluminum-alloy-welded air chambers. Both are mature technologies, each suited to different vehicle positioning, full-load conditions, and usage scenarios. Most similarly priced large six-seater family SUVs adopt plastic-welded chambers due to their cost-effectiveness and lightweight advantages. The Yijing X9, a full-size flagship six-seater SUV measuring 5.3 meters in length, was specifically engineered for prolonged high-load operation and repeated exposure to rough road conditions. During chassis development, Yijing collaborated with Rema Plaid to co-develop a bespoke dual-chamber air suspension system, featuring standard aluminum-alloy-welded air chambers. Aluminum alloy exhibits minimal creep deformation and maintains stable mechanical properties across extreme temperatures—from -40°C to intense heat exposure—delivering over twice the structural strength of plastic alternatives. This significantly reduces risks of weld seam leakage and sudden pressure loss. In terms of specific performance metrics, the air spring bladder can withstand a maximum operating pressure of 40 bar (approximately 16 times typical passenger car tire pressure, equivalent to the pressure at 400 meters underwater), while the air chamber housing has a burst pressure rating of 60 bar (about 24 times tire pressure, equivalent to 600 meters underwater). Additionally, the Yijing X9 is equipped with a proprietary chloroprene rubber air bladder developed in-house. Laboratory simulations show that after 5–6 years of high-frequency use, key performance parameters degrade by only around 5%, ensuring consistent ride quality over the long term. The suspension system has also undergone specialized durability calibration tailored to multi-passenger families who frequently travel fully loaded on inter-provincial long-distance journeys. Zeng stressed that no single technical approach is universally superior—the critical factor is alignment with real user needs. The Yijing X9 is a premium intelligent SUV jointly developed by Dongfeng Motor and Huawei Qiankun, integrating Huawei Qiankun’s six core intelligent solutions. It is scheduled for market launch and customer deliveries in the third quarter of this year.