FUSION Issue 1 2026 DIGITAL SINGLE PAGES - Flipbook - Page 26
AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY
Why Airbags Are No Longer
A Background Feature
Airbags rarely
attract attention
They do not define
a vehicle’s character,
nor do they feature
heavily in marketing
campaigns. Yet in the
UK automotive industry,
airbags have quietly
become one of the most
critical components in
meeting modern safety
expectations.
Over the next decade, demand
for airbag systems is set to rise
steadily, driven less by consumer
choice and more by regulation,
safety ratings, and the way
vehicles are now designed.
From optional extra
to non-negotiable
“ the challenge is
not deployment
speed, but
ensuring the
system responds
correctly to
increasingly
detailed
input data. ”
25
There was a time when airbags were
positioned as premium features.
Today, they are fundamental to
achieving vehicle type approval
and to meeting independent
safety assessments, such as those
conducted by Euro NCAP.
Frontal airbags are now standard
across virtually all passenger
vehicles, while side, curtain, and
knee airbags are increasingly
expected in higher volume
segments. Safety ratings influence
purchasing decisions more than
ever, making comprehensive airbag
coverage a baseline requirement
rather than a differentiator.
Designed into the
vehicle, not added on
Quietly raising
the baseline
Modern airbag systems are no
longer standalone components.
They are designed as part of an
integrated safety architecture that
works in conjunction with sensors,
electronic control units, and
advanced driver assistance systems.
The most significant change in airbag
demand is not innovation at the
top end of the market, but rather
standardisation across the market.
This integration is becoming more
complex as electric and hybrid
vehicles gain market share. New
powertrain layouts and sensor
networks require airbag systems
that respond accurately to a wider
range of crash scenarios, while
maintaining reliability over the
vehicle’s full lifespan.
In many cases, the challenge is not
deployment speed, but ensuring
the system responds correctly to
increasingly detailed input data.
Passenger cars
drive the standard
Passenger vehicles remain the
primary driver of airbag demand in
the UK. Daily use, family transport,
and urban driving place occupant
protection under constant scrutiny.
As body styles such as compact
SUVs and crossovers continue to
grow in popularity, manufacturers
are extending airbag coverage to
accommodate different seating
positions and cabin layouts. This
shift reinforces airbags as a core
safety expectation across mass
market vehicles.
Regulatory frameworks are steadily
raising minimum safety requirements,
meaning airbags are no longer used
to exceed expectations but to
meet them. For manufacturers and
suppliers, this creates consistent
demand for reliable, compliant
systems that integrate seamlessly
into high-volume production.
Suppliers such as Autoliv play a
key role in delivering systems that
balance performance, durability,
and scalability across diverse
vehicle platforms.
Why it matters
Airbags may never be headlinegrabbing technology, but they sit at
the centre of modern vehicle safety.
As the UK automotive industry
evolves through electrification and
regulatory change, airbags are no
longer background features. They
are foundational components,
quietly ensuring vehicles meet the
safety standards drivers now take
for granted.
This will sit nicely without trying
to steal attention from your
opening feature.
