So far, driver airbags have had to be round and symmetrical since the top of the airbag should protect the occupant's head as well as the abdomen and chest when the bag is turned 180 degrees. This makes it difficult to optimize the shape of the airbag since the head and chest have different weights and are at different distances from the bag.

To address this situation Autoliv has developed a steering wheel with a fixed hub. As a result, driver airbags can even be designed with an appendix airbag that prevents the driver from hitting the windshield pillar in oblique crashes.

The fixed-hub also eliminates the need for a connecting coil. Without this mechanism, the wires to the controls on the steering wheel would wear out due to the constant turning. Now, an almost unlimited number of direct cable connections can be made and more controls available on the steering wheel, where they will be more visible and accessible for the driver.