The automotive industry is on the brink of a revolutionary change in steering wheel design, thanks to ZF’s groundbreaking new airbag concept. Traditionally, airbags have been located in the center of steering wheels, but ZF has introduced a new design that deploys from the top side of the wheel, offering car manufacturers a whole new realm of design possibilities.

ZF Lifetec, the company’s passive safety systems division, is behind this innovative steering wheel and airbag. In the event of a crash, the airbag emerges from the top of the wheel and extends below the upper rim towards the driver, maintaining safety standards while allowing for enhanced design flexibility.

The first steering wheel featuring this new airbag design by ZF Lifetec boasts a sleek gloss black panel running across the center, providing a clean and modern look. This design leaves room for potential advancements such as integrating force-sensitive controls or incorporating a screen in the wheel’s center where the airbag was previously located.

Moreover, ZF’s new steering wheel can be paired with hands-on detection technology beneath the leather, enabling the system to detect if the driver is gripping the wheel securely.

While ZF has not confirmed the readiness of this new airbag design for production or specified when it might be implemented in new vehicles, the automotive industry is abuzz with anticipation. Designers are eager to explore the possibilities offered by steering wheels that no longer require a bulky center airbag.