Tesla’s new patent would let owners tilt the Cybertruck by phone to make loading heavy items easier
Tesla is developing a suspension control system that would raise a pickup’s front end and lower its rear to make loading motorcycles, ATVs and other heavy equipment easier. The new function could even be controlled from a smartphone. The most interesting aspect, however, is not remote control but the ability to adjust the height at each wheel independently and adapt the vehicle’s stance to the terrain.
Cybertruck can tilt to make loading easier
Tesla patent application US20260326744A1 describes an air suspension control system that allows the height of the vehicle’s front and rear ends to be adjusted independently.
The so-called Ramp Mode raises the front and lowers the rear to reduce the height of the load bed’s loading edge and the angle of the ramp used for loading and unloading.
In one example in the patent, the front of the vehicle rises by 80 mm and the rear drops by 70 mm. Tesla estimates that this would reduce the angle where the loading ramp meets the load bed from approximately 45–55 degrees to 20–30 degrees.
This would make loading motorcycles and ATVs particularly convenient, as the shallower angle reduces the risk of a vehicle’s underside catching as it moves from the ramp onto the bed.
Phone-controlled suspension also monitors safety
The patent document describes three main operating modes. Ramp Mode tilts the vehicle for loading, Dump Mode lowers the entire body as far as possible, and a third mode allows the vehicle to be levelled on uneven ground.
The driver could activate these functions from the vehicle’s screen or a smartphone app. The system would use sensor data to account for the vehicle’s position, load and surrounding obstacles.
For safety, the vehicle must be stationary and in Park, with the parking brake engaged. The electronics also prevent suspension adjustments if an open door or another obstruction could cause damage.
The system would also be able to adjust the suspension height as weight is added.
A useful solution, but not a technological revolution
Height-adjustable air suspension is nothing new in the automotive industry. Several luxury SUVs and pickups, including the Tesla Cybertruck, already use similar systems.
The value of the new patent lies in the coordinated control of individual suspension components and dedicated loading modes.
In the European market, this technology could be of particular interest to owners of larger pickups. However, air suspension durability, system cost and reliability under heavy loads remain decisive factors.
Tesla has not confirmed whether or when the new function will reach production Cybertrucks.
Tesla has therefore not invented a new suspension system, but found an additional practical application for it. If the solution reaches production, it could make the Cybertruck a more user-friendly work vehicle rather than just another technological demonstration.
