Thursday, November 05, 2009 at 8:29 a.m.
Read more: Local, Automotive, State
DETROIT (AP) - Ford Motor Co. says it plans to introduce seat belt-mounted air bags and will be the first automaker to mass produce the technology.
The new seat belts will debut in the back seat of the 2011 Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle, which will hit the market next fall.
The belts have a cylindrical air bag that stretches from the buckle to the shoulder and fits inside a pocket sewn into the belt.
Ford says they inflate more gently than a front air bag, and with cooler air, so it's safer for children.
Sue Cischke, Ford's group vice president for sustainability, said the Explorer was chosen for the new seat belts because it's popular with families and has also been a platform for other safety introductions.
Ford has been working on the technology for a decade.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
