Hyundai debuts multi-collision airbag

Hyundai Motor Group has revealed it is working on bringing to market a multi-collision airbag system – a world first – that is aimed at reducing occupant injuries in the event of a vehicle accident.

The new safety technology will feature additional airbags that can deploy after the initial collision, for example if a vehicle is shunted into a tree, electrical post or secondary object, and is expected to rollout to future Hyundai and Kia models at an as-yet undisclosed time.

According the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the US, 30 percent of accidents feature a secondary collision and Hyundai’s developing technology will be able to detect passenger positions after the first hit to shield them for the next impact.

“Multi-collision airbag systems are designed to deploy even faster when initial safety systems may not be effective, providing additional safety when drivers and passengers are most vulnerable,” Hyundai said.

“By recalibrating the collision intensity required for deployment, the airbag system responds more promptly during the secondary impact, thereby improving the safety of multi-collision vehicle occupants.”

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Group head of chassis technology center Taesoo Chi said: “By improving airbag performance in multi-collision scenarios, we expect to significantly improve the safety of our drivers and passengers.

“We will continue our research on more diverse crash situations as part of our commitment to producing even safer vehicles that protect occupants and prevent injuries,” he said.

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