Hyundai Mobis unveils world’s first airbags for PBVs

[Courtesy of Hyundai Mobis Co.]

Hyundai Mobis Co., the auto parts maker under South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group, has developed the world’s first airbags specifically designed for purpose-built vehicles (PBVs), which have larger interiors and diverse interior designs compared to other vehicles.

Hyundai Mobis unveiled two types of airbags on Thursday – a door-mounted curtain airbag and a self-supporting passenger airbag, which absorbs impact solely through the support of its lower section.

The door-mounted airbag deploys from the bottom upwards, unlike conventional curtain airbags that deploy from top to bottom.

This airbag also deploys along wires installed on both sides, creating a cushion that prevents passengers from being ejected through the window.

It inflates within 0.03 seconds in the event of an accident.

PBVs often feature sliding doors for the rear seats, which slide open to the side, so they may not have enough space to install airbags due to their door-closing mechanism on the ceiling.

The door-mounted airbag is designed with these conditions in mind and meets the ejection mitigation standards of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States, proving its safety.

The self-supporting passenger airbag absorbs impact without the need for a supporting structure, such as a front windshield, relying solely on the support from the bottom of the airbag.