Hyundai Motor Group is actively working on ways to enhance passenger safety even further. The company has recently developed a new center side airbag and will be rolling out this technology on their future models.
The new center side airbag works to separate the space between driver and passenger, expanding this space so as to prevent any sort of head injury to passengers in the front row.
In case there is no one in the front passenger seat, then the airbag will protect the driver from side collision from the right side, or in the case of right hand drive cars, from side collision from the left side.The center side airbag will be installed inside the driver seat and will deploy on impact.
Hyundai claims that these center side airbags are the lightest airbags in the world. The company has also applied new patent technology for these airbags in terms of weight and size, which the company claims is about 500 gms. This lighter weight as compared to other similar products is due to a simpler design and an overall reduction in component weight.
The center side airbag, being smaller in size also fits the seat design for any of the company’s upcoming cars and SUVs. It is also slated to offer upto 80 percent protection from head injuries caused by passengers from colliding with each other.
According to a survey conducted by European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, the rate of secondary damage due to collision or from passengers hitting interior surfaces is about 45 percent. Upcoming Euro NCAP tests also include side impact set to come into effect from early 2020 and Hyundai Motor Group’s airbag is expected to work favorably in such evaluations.
Hyundai has also confirmed that the new central side airbag will be fitted on all future products from Hyundai, Kia and Genesis. It may also be noted that Hyundai vehicles have been awarded a 5 star safety ratings by NHTSA, and 12 Top Safety Pick+ awards by IIHS. These vehicles include Hyundai Kona, Santa Fe, Tucson and NEXO.