Nissan Achieves Record Safety Rating with Autoliv Products

Last week the European New Car Assessment Program, Euro NCAP, released the best-ever score for adult occupants in its crash-test program since the start more than ten years ago. The vehicle that set this new safety record is the Nissan compact crossover Qashqai. Autoliv Inc. – the worldwide leader in automotive safety systems – is the main supplier of the safety systems and has also assisted with the verifying performance testing. The Nissan Qashqai received almost maximum points in Euro NCAP’s strict front, side impact and pole crash tests.

“We are very proud to have participated in the development program that has driven Nissan to this successful result for the Nissan Qashqai. We are very pleased with the results of this cooperation,” said Mr. Jan Carlson, Autoliv’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

“The basis for this productive cooperation is, of course, Nissan’s own ambitions and efforts in automotive safety, which we were happy to support with our innovative safety technologies,” concluded Jan Carlson.

Autoliv is the supplier to the Nissan Qashqai of the passenger airbag, the Inflatable Curtains that provide head protection in side-impact collisions, the side-impact airbags for chest protection as well as all seat belt systems. Autoliv also supplied Nissan with performance testing and assisted Nissan in the development phase.

Euro NCAP’s small family car class has seen colorful results over the last year or so, ranging from a two star strikethrough to some high scoring five star cars, but until the Qashqai no car had received a full rounded 37 points in the adult occupant protection rating.

Euro NCAP’s front and side impact testing verifies the crash worthiness of the vehicle and looks for any injury that may occur to the driver or the passenger from structural deformation of the car and vehicle deceleration as a result of an accident. The pole test looks at potential injuries to the head.