Hyundai Introduces World’s First Multi-Collision Airbag System

Hyundai Motor Group has announced the world’s first multi-collision airbag system that significantly improves airbag performance in multi-collision accidents.

Multi-collision accidents are those in which the primary impact is followed by collisions with secondary objects, such as trees, electrical posts, or other vehicles – which according to the U.S. traffic safety administration or NTHSA, occurs in 30 percent of accidents.

Current airbag systems do not offer secondary protection when the initial impact is insufficient to cause them to deploy. However, the multi-collision airbag system allows airbags to deploy effectively upon a secondary impact by calibrating the status of the vehicle and the occupants.  

The new technology detects occupant position in the cabin following an initial collision, and are designed to deploy even faster when initial safety systems may not be effective, providing additional safety when drivers and passengers are most vulnerable.

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. 

Hyundai Motor Group analysed multi-collision scenarios in multilateral ways to improve airbag performance and precision in secondary collisions. Hyundai Motor Group will implement the new system in future Hyundai and Kia vehicles.