The Pelvis-Thorax airbag is used to increase side impact restraint performance. To achieve this improved protection, the airbag coverage area is extended by adding a cell which is inflated to a higher pressure in order to distribute load over the thorax and pelvis parts of the occupant's body more efficiently.

This concept takes advantage of the pelvis' ability to take higher loads, while it limits pressure on the sensitive thorax/abdomen area.

Because the distance between the occupant and the car's stiff parts is so small, this side airbag deploys very fast (within a very few milliseconds) so that it will be in protective position very early in the crash. The Pelvis-Thorax airbag is located in the back-rest frame of the car seat.