Autoliv Introduces New Unique Passenger Airbag Concept

(Stockholm, September 16th, 2008) – Autoliv – the global leader in automotive safety systems – has unveiled a new passenger airbag concept – designed to reduce weight by up to 30% and to provide several other advantages. This is achieved by using a unique fabric container for the folded airbag, instead of a conventional steel or plastic housing.

The new innovative passenger airbag module is introduced on the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse, Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave. The Autoliv patented technology replaces traditional rigid housings made from steel or plastic with a flexible and lighter textile material, resulting in a 30% weight reduction in the passenger airbag module compared to the previous version. The weight savings will help car companies meet the more stringent CO2 and CAFÉ (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) requirements. Other advantages include a simpler integration of the airbag into the dashboard of the vehicle since the soft fabric housing can be easily adapted to the dashboard packing space. By using textile material for the housing it is also possible to reduce prototype and production tooling needs and to cut prototype turnaround time from months to days. The result is that the entire development process from inception to production can be reduced sharply.

“We are proud of this new concept that will further assist our customers’ effort to reduce the environmental impact”, said Pontus Soderstrom, Autoliv’s Director Advanced Technologies for GM Global Business Unit. Mr. Soderstrom continues, “the new product’s inherent flexibility also enables it to be reused across different vehicle designs and more robustly absorb tolerance differences between the upper instrument panel and lower instrument panel”.
Autoliv’s passenger airbag design is flexible for a variety of vehicle architectures including hard mount to the back side of the instrument panel and hooked to the instrument panel chute walls. It can be combined with a variety of inflator and cushion options depending on specific vehicle needs. This patented technology has been sourced on multiple vehicle programs for various customers, launching over the next few years.

Inquiries:

Pontus Soderstrom, Director Advanced Technologies, GM Global Business Unit +1-248-890-7286
Henrik Kaar, Director Coperate Communications + 46 8 587 20 614