New airbag design could change steering wheel design

For decades, the driver’s airbag has been located in the center of the steering wheel, but ZF, one of the world’s leading suppliers of automotive components, has come up with a new idea. In the event of a collision, the airbag will deploy from above the steering wheel, rather than in the center. The new design will give creative freedom to the steering wheel’s surface, as it no longer has to be reserved for an airbag.

The first steering wheel with the new airbag design has a glossy black surface running horizontally in the middle. The design is seamless and clean, and the horn button is still in the middle. But automakers can tweak this concept in many ways. For example, they could add other controls to the steering wheel, or even a screen here since there is no airbag.

ZF also says the new steering wheel can incorporate a hand sensor – which determines whether the driver has their hands on the wheel – right under the leather covering.

However, ZF did not say whether the new airbag and steering wheel designs were ready for mass production.

The new designs, including airbags and steering wheels, were unveiled at the first Technology Day of the newly formed brand in March, ZF Lifetec, which operates independently from its parent company ZF. With a global market share of more than 20%, the new brand’s technology can be fitted to models from most of the world’s leading manufacturers.

Also at the event, ZF Lifetec introduced a new driver airbag solution that deploys in different sizes depending on the driving or sitting position, and an internal side airbag that deploys just before a collision on the outside of the vehicle, creating an additional impact-absorbing zone between the vehicle door and the driver, reducing the risk of injury.