Automotive Interiors World
  • News
    • A-C
      • ADAS
      • Aftermarket
      • Augmented Reality
      • Automotive Interiors Expo
      • Autonomous
      • Concepts
      • Connectivity
    • D-L
      • Dash
      • Displays
      • EV
      • Graphics & Printing
      • HMI
      • HVAC
      • Infotainment
      • Lighting
      • Luxury
    • M-S
      • Materials
      • NVH & BSR
      • Personal Assistants
      • Safety
      • Seating
      • Sensors
      • Simulation
      • Sound System
    • S-V
      • Sport
      • Surfaces & Decoration
      • Sustainability
      • Testing
      • Trim
      • Virtual Reality
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    • May 2020
    • October 2019
    • May 2019
    • October 2018
    • May 2018
    • Subscribe Free!
  • Opinion
  • Videos
  • Supplier Spotlight
LinkedIn Facebook Twitter
  • Automotive Testing
  • Automotive Powertrain
  • Autonomous Vehicle
  • Professional Motorsport
  • Tire Technology
  • Media Pack
LinkedIn Facebook
Subscribe
Automotive Interiors World
  • News
      • 3D Printing
      • ADAS
      • Aftermarket
      • Augmented Reality
      • Automotive Interiors Expo
      • Autonomous
      • Computing
      • Concepts
      • Connectivity
      • Dash
      • Displays
      • EV
      • Graphics & Printing
      • Haptics
      • HMI
      • HVAC
      • Infotainment
      • Lighting
      • Luxury
      • Materials
      • Microprocessors
      • NVH & BSR
      • Personal Assistants
      • Safety
      • Seating
      • Sensors
      • Simulation
      • Sound System
      • Sport
      • Surfaces & Decoration
      • Sustainability
      • Testing
      • Trim
      • Virtual Reality
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    1. May 2020
    2. October 2019
    3. May 2019
    4. October 2018
    5. May 2018
    6. Subscribe Free!
    Featured
    April 3, 2020

    In this Issue – May 2020

    By Helen NormanApril 3, 2020
    Recent

    In this Issue – May 2020

    April 3, 2020

    In this Issue – October 2019

    September 19, 2019

    In this Issue – May 2019

    April 30, 2019
  • Opinion
  • Videos
  • Supplier Spotlight
  • Events
Facebook Instagram
Subscribe
Automotive Interiors World
Safety

ZF Lifetec launches heel airbag that reduces injury risk in future vehicle designs

Rachel EvansBy Rachel EvansFebruary 20, 20253 Mins Read
Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email
ZF Lifetec launches heel airbag that reduces injury risk in future vehicle designs

The new Active Heel Airbag technology from ZF Lifetec addresses safety concerns in future vehicles where seats may be positioned farther from the footwell. It ensures a stable heel impact point – even when seats are pushed back. The company states that without the Active Heel Airbag, the risk of serious leg and foot injuries in an accident greatly increases.

As seats move further back into ‘comfort positions’ in future vehicles, the footwell may become too distant to provide proper support. In an accident, this could lead to uncontrolled leg movement, increasing the risk of lower extremity injuries. While many of these injuries are not life-threatening, they can cause long-term musculoskeletal damage for both the driver and front passenger.

In a crash, the Active Heel Airbag inflates beneath the vehicle’s floor carpet. On the driver’s side, by integrating the pedals, the airbag creates a smooth, uniform surface for the heel in the event of a crash. This helps prevent foot injuries caused by twisting upon impact with an edge, such as the brake pedal.

“If the heel strike point is missing, the knees cannot be effectively deployed into the airbag and the knee airbag is less effective. The Active Heel Airbag helps to ensure an adequate heel impact point even in more comfortable seating positions,” said Harald Lutz, head of development at ZF Lifetec.

In a conventional seating position, the vehicle floor provides sufficient support for front-seat occupants’ feet, ensuring a stable heel strike point. This stability also enables a controlled knee path and ensures that, if the vehicle has a knee airbag, the knee joint makes contact at the most favorable angle. With the heel securely supported in the footwell, a significant portion of crash energy can be transferred through the femur – the body’s strongest bone – into the vehicle structure.

However, crash tests have shown that when an occupant moves their seat back into a more comfortable position, the increased distance between the heels and the impact point weakens the connection to the footwell. To maintain proper support, an additional heel impact point is needed.

The Active Heel Airbag can be integrated into the footwell without requiring extra space in both the passenger and driver sides, and will be available for installation in vehicles in 2028.

On the driver’s side, it can be activated either by a comfort position button or through camera-based interior monitoring, such as during assisted driving.

Share. LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email
Previous ArticleMotive introduces AI assistance to improve driver safety in Mexico
Next Article GM to introduce Lear’s ComfortMax seat in vehicles from Q2 of 2025

Read Similar Stories

Safety

Axkid launches forward-facing children’s car seat

April 17, 20252 Mins Read
ADAS

EXPO NEWS: Show highlights from Automotive Testing Expo India 2025

April 10, 20254 Mins Read
Safety

FIA details new seat attenuator for Rally Raid

March 26, 20253 Mins Read
Latest News

TechnoCompound and RE Plano expand post-consumer recyclates collaboration

May 15, 2025

Audi adds DAZN sports streaming service to in-vehicle app portfolio

May 15, 2025

Renault uses pineapple as a sustainable alternative to leather

May 15, 2025

Receive breaking stories and features in your inbox each week, for free


Enter your email address:


Supplier Spotlights
  • TG0 Ltd
Getting in Touch
  • Contact Us / Advertise
  • Meet the Editors
  • Download Media Pack
  • Free Weekly E-Newsletter
Our Social Channels
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
UKi Media & Events
Related UKi Topics
  • Automotive Testing
  • Automotive Powertrain
  • Autonomous Vehicle
  • Professional Motorsport
  • Tire Technology
  • Media Pack
© 2025 UKi Media & Events a division of UKIP Media & Events Ltd
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Notice and Takedown Policy

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “ACCEPT ALL”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie settingsREJECTACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Functional

Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.

Performance

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

Analytics

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

Advertisement

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.

Others

Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.

SAVE & ACCEPT
Powered by