This kind of airbag will, in effect, become mandatory by federal law in all new vehicles sold in the U.S. of model year 2013. The installation rates in new vehicles exceed already 60% in both North America and Europe.

Autoliv's patented Inflatable Curtain (IC) covers the entire upper part of a vehicle's side, cushioning the heads of all passengers seated next to that side. It can be designed to protect one row (A to B pillar), 2 rows (A to C pillar) or 3 rows (A to D pillar) of occupants.

Two types of Inflatable Curtains are used. One type is designed to absorb the energy of a direct side impact called First Impact. The other type of curtain is able to provide energy absorption up to 6 seconds in roll-overs and in case of second impact. Pressure retention is achieved by using a sealed cushion in which cells are woven on the loom, directly from the yarn, using Autoliv's one-piece-weaving technology. This Inflatable Curtain technology is also used to achieve an even protection and ejection mitigation (according to NHTSA requirements) in roll over accidents.

Stored in the headliner above the doors, the cells of the IC are inflated in less than 25 milliseconds (four times faster than the blink of an eye). The inflation makes the curtain deploy in the passenger compartment, providing protection between the occupant's head and any hard objects (such as a pole). This allows the Head Injury Criterion (HIC) to be improved. Laboratory tests have shown that values of so-called HIC can be reduced by more than 90% when using Inflatable Curtains.