TRW Begins Production of Roof Airbags for Citroën

April 3, 2014

Patrick Ponticel

TRW says its "bag in roof" technology is functionally compatible with a wide range of vehicle architectures.

A new occupant-protection technology from TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. has the passenger-seat airbag deploying from the headliner instead of the dashboard. It is being launched on the Citroën C4 Cactus. The supplier says the new "bag in roof" technology is functionally compatible with a wide range of vehicle architectures and allows for improved interior aesthetics, ergonomics, and functionality while freeing up space in the dashboard for multimedia offerings or additional storage. It is a "unique development and provides enhanced styling flexibility for future vehicle interior requirements in combination with excellent restraint performance," said Dirk Schultz, Engineering Director for TRW's Inflatable Restraint Systems. The airbag unit comprises a cushion, a gas diffusion channel, and a gas generator within a housing fixed onto (or beneath) the headliner above the windscreen. Upon deployment, the bag unfolds along the windscreen in front of the occupant, rather than toward him. The product offers easy assembly with opportunities for standardization, as some of the components are common to all TRW airbag applications, according to the company. TRW also claims the system also improves development efficiency by eliminating the need to design and test a specific 'door' that opens with the airbag deployment.