Question About Airbags and US Compliance

[StanAE86]

I just watched another Saleen S7 video and noticed that it doesn't have airbags, which is mandated in the US. Does anyone have any information on why the S7 doesn't have one? My guess is that Steve got a federal exemption for it, but I'm wondering if someone has some tidbits of information as to what standards the Feds use to grant such an exemption? I only know of one other company that got a Fed exemption and it was in the early 1990s, but an SUV company called LaForza. They also issued their cars with Momo steering wheels under an exemption, but promised compliance within X years...but ultimately the company went belly up.

[sameerrao]

I don't think kit cars need to have airbags. E.g. the Caterham doesnt have it.

[nthfinity]

^^^^^
its more then that.... the S7 is concidered a production car

but if production... or import is below 300 cars/year, you don't need airbags, or the new bumper/headlight regulations either... and perhaps you can skirt a few other issues.

hence.. the Spyker, and Koenigsegg, S7 etc. etc.

[StanAE86]

Yeah, the S7 is not considered a kit car, but an actual production car, unlike his Mustangs, which are just tuned (no matter what gimmick they tell you about how he was a manufacturer, before the S7).

I see, so if it's low production, they'll let you get away with it. I wonder what the reasoning is about that? If safety is the mainstay for the regulation, does it matter that Saleen, at best, will only kill 300 people (dunno if there is a passenger airbag, but I doubt it - then it would be at most, 600 people).

Doesn't make sense to me. These low volume guys have to crash test the car anyway...what's the problem with sticking an airbag in it?

I'm not trying to push airbags or anything like that, but I'm starting to see Federal bullsh!t on this particular issue? I'm guessing the exemption came at a hefty "price" that the Feds charged Saleen to get that exemption...basically bought them off and added it to the cost of the car...?

[nthfinity]

^^^^^^^
no, its long established regulations; and has nothing to do with anybody paying anybody off; and they still have to pass crash tests.... which have little to do with air-bags, and the new bumper regs

it has to do with allowing smaller business to have more success

[StanAE86]

Okay. That's sounding a bit more reasonable then. Saving costs on airbag testing to give the little guy a shot? I think that sounds familiar with the LaForza story...but they didn't make it anyway.

Thanks for the clarification!