Autoliv develops front-centre airbag to prevent passengers from colliding

New Front Center Airbag helps avoid driver-to-interior and driver-to-passenger impact;  claimed to reduce injuries caused by passengers colliding with each other by up to 80%.

Autocar Professional BureauBy Autocar Professional Bureau calendar 18 Nov 2019 Views icon7892 Views Share - Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to LinkedIn Share to Whatsapp
Autoliv develops front-centre airbag to prevent passengers from colliding

Autoliv Inc, the global vehicle safety systems leader, today announced the development of a new front centre airbag  designed to save lives in side-impact crash situations. The airbag will be showcased at Autoliv's Capital Markets Day held on November 19 at its technical center in Ogden, Utah.

The head is one of the most frequently injured body regions in any road collision potentially resulting in devastating long-term consequences for the victim. For side collisions from the opposite side, the passenger may hit the vehicle interior or the other front seat passenger, sustaining injuries to the head and chest. To improve protection for these injuries, Euro NCAP has introduced the far-side load case in the rating program from January 1, 2020. 

The new Autoliv Front Center Airbag helps avoid driver-to-interior and driver-to-passenger impact. The inboard seat-mounted airbag deploys in the space between the driver and the front-seat passenger, providing protection for them from colliding during a side impact and reduces risk of trauma to head, shoulder and chest.

"Research indicates that the new Front Center Airbag can reduce injuries caused by passengers colliding with each other by up to 80%. If there is no one in the front passenger seat, the airbag will offer enhanced driver protection from a far-side collision. It is a technology innovation that underlines Autoliv's commitment to saving lives and preventing injuries on the roads across the world," says Scott Dershem, vice-president of Development, Autoliv.

Autoliv says its front centre airbag will be introduced in 19 car models in 2020.

Hyundai's centre-side airbag
Interestingly, two months ago, Hyundai Motor Group said it has developed a new centre-side airbag, which works to separate the space between driver and passenger. Hyundai says its patented technology has helped simplify the design and reduce the weight of component to produce an airbag which is about 500g lighter than competing products. The new centre-side airbag, installed inside the driver’s seat, is expected to diminish head injuries caused by passengers colliding with each other by 80 percent. The Hyundai Motor Group says it will roll out the technology in upcoming vehicles.

 

RELATED ARTICLES
Skoda begins sale of made-in-India CKD Kushaq in Vietnam

auther Autocar Professional Bureau calendar30 Jun 2025

Before production started, pre-series Kushaq vehicles covered over 330,000 kilometres on a variety of Vietnamese roads a...

Six Japanese companies join forces to expand use of recycled materials in new vehicles

auther Autocar Professional Bureau calendar30 Jun 2025

Denso, Toray Industries, Nomura Research Institute, Honda Motor, Matec Inc and Rever Corporation have set up the BlueReb...

BYD selects Voestalpine as steel supplier for its Hungarian plant

auther Autocar Professional Bureau calendar28 Jun 2025

The announcement of the Austrian steelmaker as a supplier demonstrates BYD’s strategic plan to source from high-quality,...