Automotive Curtain Airbags Market Trends

Curtain airbags have been placed at the front pillars, roof sides, and the rear pillars. It deploys simultaneously with the side airbag to protect the driver's or passenger's head, and it minimizes injury in the event of a side collision. Curtain airbags have been majorly deployed in SUVs and Vans compared to other vehicle types. However, with the growing safety standards across all vehicle types, curtain airbags are likely to see growth in the market studied during the forecast period, owing to its increasing adoption in mini-cars to heavy-duty trucks in the coming years. Federal regulation on side-impact protection requires a certain level of head and torso protection for all occupants. While it does not specifically mandate side airbags, the required protection is typically achieved with them. As of the 2014 model year, virtually all new passenger vehicles must comply with this regulation. As a result, most passenger vehicles come with side airbags as standard equipment.

Side impact crashes at intersections account for approximately 22% of all major crash types where people are killed or seriously injured. The availability of curtain airbags has increased significantly. The number of new vehicles sold in Victoria with curtain airbags has risen from 24% in 2006 to 64% in early 2011.

A study of crashes in Australia found that side airbags with head and torso protection reduce a car driver's risk of death or injury in driver-side crashes by 41%. Similar trends were found in an NHTSA study, which have been focusing on the fatality risk to drivers and right-front-seat passenger vehicles involved in nearside crashes. Curtain airbags and torso airbags together reduce the risk of death by 31%, and the combination head/torso airbags reduce the risk by 25%.