Autoliv has onboarded Toyota as the first customer to assess its Human Body Model (HBM) Safety Suite, a platform for vehicle safety development.

The HBM Safety Suite is an integrated virtual safety platform that combines an “advanced” HBM for crash simulation with software tools for analysis, visualisation and decision-making.

Autoliv said the HBM is a digital representation of human anatomy designed to provide insights into occupant response and injury mechanisms not available from physical dummies.

The platform is intended for use alongside physical crash testing to support the development of safer vehicles while helping to reduce lead times and improve cost efficiency, it added.

Toyota has begun using the platform within its virtual safety development activities to evaluate its capabilities.

Autoliv plans to make the platform more widely available across the automotive industry later this year.

According to the company, the step comes as virtual testing becomes “an important complement to physical crash testing in the automotive industry, driven by shorter vehicle development cycles, evolving safety requirements, and the need for earlier insights during vehicle development”.

Autoliv CTO Fabien Dumont said: “Autoliv's HBM Safety Suite provides detailed insights into how the human body may respond in a crash, helping engineers evaluate and optimise safety performance earlier in the development process.

“By combining advanced Human Body Models with dedicated analysis and visualisation tools, we can support the development of safer vehicles and contribute to our vision of saving more lives.”

The Toyota deal follows two other tie-ups Autoliv struck in July.

The company entered a partnership with Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng, formalised through Autoliv (Shanghai) Management, to pursue safety technology for mobility markets globally – bringing together Autoliv's safety systems background with Xpeng's work in smart electric mobility.

Xpeng also has interests in artificial intelligence, autonomous driving and humanoid robotics.

That same month, Autoliv and Great Wall Motor expanded their existing partnership as the Chinese manufacturer pursues international growth.

The renewed framework spans global business expansion, supply chain cooperation, localised operations, joint development of integrated safety systems, and sustainable growth initiatives.