Watch: How Tata Fit An Airbag Into The Backlit Steering Wheel Of The Nexon EV Facelift

The backlit centre pad of the Nexon EV’s steering wheel has a glass-like finish, but it’s just a very specific kind of plastic

Tata has taken the covers off the Nexon facelift and Nexon EV facelift ahead of the market launch mid-September. Both subcompact SUVs have undergone extensive styling upgrades, incorporated new tech features, and now include additional standard safety equipment. In addition to the new LED lighting setup front and rear, and a larger touchscreen system, the updated Nexon stands out with its distinctive 2-spoke steering wheel, featuring an illuminated Tata logo at its center.

While this steering wheel undoubtedly boasts a futuristic appearance, some people are mistaking the backlit centre pad as glass, concerned that if the driver’s airbag deploys, it might shatter the centre pad into pieces, potentially leading to more injuries. Tata's Chief Product Officer, Anand Kulkarni, has addressed this concern.

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Plastic With A Glass-finish

As seen in the video, Tata Motors' Chief Product Officer, Anand Kulkarni, explained that the backlit centre pad of the 2-spoke steering wheel in the Nexon EV is actually made of high-quality plastic, not glass. According to his explanation, there is a seam under the pad from which the airbags are supposed to deploy. Apart from that seam, the remaining areas of the steering pad have been reinforced to ensure that when the airbag deploys, it does not shatter into pieces.

The right plastic selection has been made for this steering wheel pad, and it has undergone multiple tests, not only by Tata but also by regulatory agencies, to ensure that it does what it is intended to do.

Also Check Out: Watch: Tata Nexon EV Facelift V2L Feature in Action

Other Safety Features

The safety kit of the Nexon EV further includes features such as six airbags (as standard), a 360-degree camera, a blind view monitoring system, and front and rear parking sensors. The electric subcompact SUV also gets electronic stability control, ABS with EBD with corner stability control, rollover mitigation, 3-point seatbelts for all passengers, ISOFIX anchorage points for child-seat,  front and rear parking sensors, and a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). 

If you want to know more about the 2023 Nexon EV’s updated powertrain and new features, head here.

Expected Price & Rivals

The prices for the Tata Nexon EV facelift will be announced on September 14, which might start from Rs 15 lakh (ex-showroom) onwards.. Tata’s electric SUV will continue to rival the Mahindra XUV400, while being an affordable alternative to the MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona Electric.

Read More on : Tata Nexon EV AMT