• Installed in the vehicle doors, the airbag deploys in 0.03 seconds.
• The airbag absorbs the impact without touching the windshield and protects passengers using only the lower support.
• The airbags developed especially for PBVs (bespoke vehicles) meet international safety standards and warranted scalability.

The window airbag is installed in the vehicle door (Photo: Disclosure)

Hyundai Mobis’ self-supporting passenger airbag (Photo: Disclosure)

On July 18, Hyundai Mobis unveiled the world’s first airbags designed specifically for Purpose Built Vehicles (PBVs). These safety technologies take into account the unique characteristics of PBVs, which typically have a spacious interior and versatile design options.

PBVs aim to meet all the needs of customers, whether individuals or companies requiring specific vehicles.

With the anticipated commercialization of PBV-based fleet services from 2025, the demand for passenger safety technologies in this sector is expected to increase.

The new safety technology developed by Hyundai Mobis is a window airbag installed in the vehicle door, which is triggered from the bottom up, and the “self-supporting passenger airbag”, which absorbs the impact only by supporting the lower part of the airbag.

Both have the function of preventing the ejection of the passenger and significantly reducing injuries during possible collisions or rollovers. They also meet stringent safety standards in advanced markets such as North America.

Innovative window airbag with vertical actuation along the cables, revolutionizing installation locations

The door-mounted airbag breaks with the conventional idea of window airbags that normally deploy from the top down. This new airbag technology inflates vertically from bottom to top in 0.03 seconds during an accident.

Hyundai Mobis is the first to apply a tethered deployment mechanism to window airbags. The cushion unfolds along cables installed on both sides of the airbag, preventing passengers from being ejected from the window, in line with international standards.

PBVs often use sliding doors for rear passenger access, which can limit the space available for airbag installation due to the door structure being located on the roof. In such cases, the door-mounted airbag proves effective.

Lee Kyu-Sang, Head of the Safety Systems Research and Development Group at Hyundai Mobis, said: “We developed the new window airbag concept with the urban transportation PBV market in mind.”

Hyundai Mobis has incorporated a technology that attaches the airbag cushion close to the front crash pad, warranting stable protection for the passenger, even without contact with the windshield. This design meets the high safety standards set by the North American New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

The new aibag technology is not expected to be sold on the Brazilian market.

About Hyundai Mobis

Founded on July 1, 1977, Hyundai Mobis is a Hyundai Group company, which manufactures automotive parts based in Seoul, South Korea. By offering high-quality products, technologies and services, Hyundai Mobis has strengthened its position in the automotive parts industry to become the sixth largest global automotive parts supplier by 2023. Today, Hyundai Mobis has more than 30,000 employees, with more than two-thirds of them based outside of Korea in subsidiaries around the world. In Brazil, Hyundai Mobis had its plant established in 2012 at the Automotive Park of Piracicaba (SP), starting its activities in September of the same year. With more than 600 employees, Hyundai Mobis has two operational units and one administrative unit in the country. Visit the institutional website (www.hyundaimobis.com.br) and our social media networks Facebook (www.facebook.com/hyundaimobis), Instagram (www.instagram.com/hyundaimobisbr), YouTube (www.youtube.com/@hyundaimobisbr) e LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/hyundai-mobis/).

About Hyundai Motor Brasil/ Hyundai Motor Central & South Americas

Hyundai Motor Brasil has been present in the country since 2012, when it opened its plant in Piracicaba (SP). With 3,200 employees, it is responsible for manufacturing and marketing the HB20 compact vehicle family and the Creta compact SUV. From Brazil, the brand coordinates commercial operations for the Central and South American region and exports to neighboring countries such as Argentina, Colombia, Paraguay, and Uruguay. To learn more about Hyundai and its products in Brazil, access www.hyundai.com.br. Also follow the day to day of the brand on social networks: Facebook (www.facebook.com/hyundaimobis), Instagram (www.instagram.com/hyundaimobisbr), YouTube (www.youtube.com/@hyuundaimobisbr) e LinkedIn (www. https://www.linkedin.com/company/hyundai-mobis/.

About Hyundai Motor Company

Founded in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is present in more than 200 countries with about 120,000 employees dedicated to addressing mobility challenges worldwide. Based on the brand vision “Progress for Humanity,” Hyundai Motor is accelerating its transformation into an intelligent mobility solutions provider. The company invests in advanced technologies such as robotics and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) to bring revolutionary solutions, while looking for open innovation to develop future mobility services. Seeking a sustainable future for the world, Hyundai will continue to employ its efforts to introduce zero-emission vehicles equipped with the highest technology in electrification, leading the hydrogen fuel cell industry. More information about Hyundai Motor Company and its products can be found at worldwide.hyundai.com or globalpr.hyundai.com.