Toyota: First Rear Window Airbag
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Toyota has developed the world’s first SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) rear window curtain shield airbag. This newest technology will be used to protect rear passengers’ heads in the case of a rear-end collision. The airbag deploys from the roof lining above the rear window that looks like a curtain-like barrier. Together with the headrests, the airbag minimises the risk of injury to the head, from a colliding vehicle. It will be used in the coming “iQ”, a compact four-seater. It is expected to double the car’s rear passenger protection. Toyota for the longest time, continually develops safety features, as its primary objective.
Want to see the Decliners?
Image source: www.fuelzilla.com
It seems like the automotive industry is deteriorating over time. Reports of sales falls are usual nowadays, particularly in the United States where the economy has slowed down. Autoweek.com reports that March auto sales have left down by 12.0 percent to 1.36 million vehicles.
Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. is among the decliners in this unfavorable situation with a 10.3 percent drop in sales last month. The plunge has prompted Toyota officials to revise its 2008 sales forecast. While Toyota performed poorly with its trucks and SUVs, it did well with its cars such as Camry and Prius that registered good sales.
If we’ll try to look at the bright side of things, we could see that Toyota is just slightly affected here. First, its cars are export. Second, its truck and SUV problems are also problems of the rest of automakers. So I guess there’s really not much to worry about. They could for all time make up for the lost with a new marketing approach, anyhow.
Toyota and Safety
Toyota is placing new 30-40 member teams in their main research facility (located in Michigan), and could even relocate these personnel. The tems shall focus on the specific fields of safety and environmental technologies.
This actually borders on sci-fi, if you ask me, since the specific technologies mentioned involve neuroscience and innovative energy alternatives. Neuroscience will help in automobile safety, while the alternative energy source research will address replacement of fossil fuels.
