Ford Motor Company's "Injection Molding Knee Airbag/Glove Box System" won the American Society of Plastics Engineers 2014 Automotive Electronics Innovation Award. The system was used in the 2015 Ford Mustang model, which the company said was the first in the industry. Instead of a conventional textile airbag, the system uses an injection molded plastic airbag that is integrated into the glove box door. When the vehicle is impacted, the airbag inflates from the glove box door panel toward the front passenger's legs to provide cushioning.

 

　　Plastic bladders were attached by hot plate welding, and Ford also developed a static pressure crack test to verify the strength of the seal.

 

　　Faurecia is the manufacturer of the glove box system. A 20% talc-filled polypropylene material manufactured by Advanced Composites was used. One version uses a high rubber content to increase ductility. Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation provides thermoplastic olefins. Extol Inc. is responsible for the development of hot plate welding.

 

　　Ford has received 15 patents for this technology and more are pending.

 

　　The glove box system loses 65% less weight than a conventional glove box plus airbag, saving $5-10 per vehicle in cost. Inflatable equipment is 75% smaller than the transmission, allowing designers to move the dashboard closer to the windshield and create more space in the cockpit.

 

　　Ford said the technology will be standard equipment for the 2015 LHD Mustang, the 2016 European LHD and the RHD Mustang, and will likely expand to more Ford models.