ZF Lifetec's New Concept Has Airbag That Works with Steering Wheel Displays

by Chris Teague

Published: July 1st, 2024

zf lifetec s new concept has airbag that works with steering wheel displays

ZF is a massive company, and while you might know it best for building transmissions, the corporation houses several businesses. ZF Lifetec, a part of the company responsible for passive safety products, has developed a steering wheel airbag system that accommodates display screens, which may become more of a thing as autonomous vehicles start hitting the streets.

ZF Liftec’s new airbag concept inflates the bag from the top portion of the steering wheel rim when the wheel is centered. The device also features a system that corrects airbag inflation if the wheel is turned to prevent it from hitting the driver’s legs. The initial design is a fairly sedate steering wheel with traditionally placed buttons and controls, so ZF’s vision of a futuristic steering wheel is pretty close to the components we see today.

While it’s likely that steering wheel screens will become a thing, it’s hard to celebrate more distractions in our cars, even if there is some degree of automation helping to control them. ZF’s concept can accommodate sensors and other components that work with hands-off driving and driver monitoring systems and can help alert the driver of the need to take control of the vehicle in some situations. At least the company believes our future cars will still have steering wheels, so we can hold onto hope that others do, too.

[Images: ZF]

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Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

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2 of 9 comments

28-Cars-Later 7 hours ago

"While it’s likely that steering wheel screens will become a thing"

Oh Christ on a bike. I wish there were still safety regulations in this nation.

1 Reply
IBx1 2 hours ago

God no, enough screens

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