The zero-gravity seat developed by ZF Automotive Safety Systems (Wuhan) Co in WEDZ. [Photo/WeChat account: whkfq]
ZF Automotive Safety Systems (Wuhan) Co in Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone (WEDZ) is developing airbags for flying cars and plans to produce them within the zone, said Huang Xichao, the company's general manager.
Over the past 15 years, ZF Group, a globally renowned automotive parts supplier, has invested in Hubei province, helping transform it from primarily a manufacturing hub into a research and development center.
Visitors to ZF can witness cutting-edge safety technologies, including a new type of airbag that deploys from behind the car's sun visor. "The integration of multimedia systems into the dashboards of new energy vehicles has reduced available space, prompting new approaches to airbag deployment," Huang said.
The company also showcases a zero-gravity seat equipped with an occupant sensing system that detects passenger status. Its advanced pre-collision algorithms make decisions in complex situations and execute critical actions, such as ignition.
A heated seatbelt with rapid-heating functionality delivers warmth in just three seconds, ensuring a more comfortable driving experience in winter.
Huang highlighted that ZF has established a technological strategy centered on intelligent and electrified innovation. The company is committed to automotive intelligent safety technologies and is strengthening the research and development of integrated active and passive safety systems.
"Wuhan serves as the automotive industry hub of Central China, hosting numerous vehicle manufacturers and component suppliers, which aligns with our business objectives," Huang noted.
The company's Wuhan R&D center focuses on core areas including automotive intelligent safety. It collaborates with local universities and research institutions to build innovation platforms that address technical challenges across 10 smart domains. Its research scope spans intelligent cockpits, integrated active-passive systems, flying cars, and chip testing.
ZF plans to further expand its R&D and production capacity investments in Wuhan, enlarging the R&D center and promoting the localization of new technologies and products.
