Hyundai Motor Group said on Wednesday new passenger vehicle releases will be equipped with self-developed center side airbag to separate the space between driver and passenger and prevent head injuries.

The center side airbag positioned next to the driver’s seat will deploy in 0.03 second once the impact is sensed.

Lab test results showed the center side airbag can diminish head injuries caused by passengers colliding with each other by about 80 percent, the Korean conglomerate said.

Hyundai Motor Group said it applied newly patented technology to the airbag to ensure system stability, while achieving the industry’s smallest and lightest airbag. A new technology was developed to simplify the design and reduce the weight of components by about 50 percent compared to competing products, it said.

The smaller size of the airbag means the group’s design team has more flexibility in the type of seat design for future mobility products.

Hyundai Motor Group will roll out the new center side airbag in upcoming vehicles.

By Lee Jong-hyuk and Minu Kim

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