SKODA aims to stop the faff of trying to belt up in the dark with clever LED-lit seat belt buckles.
The traditional red button is replaced by a transparent one housing a pair of multi-coloured lights. In standard mode with nobody in the seat, the LEDs glow white to show the passenger where the buckle is located at night.
But they can be programmed so they turn red when people sit in seats to remind them to belt up. Once buckles are secured, the LEDs go green before returning to white. This is particularly useful for parents who’ll quickly see if their kids are properly strapped in.
The smart illuminated seat belt buckle is just one of many features devised, designed and engineered in-house. Every year, the Czech brand files numerous patent applications for ideas and systems to make life easier, safer and more enjoyable for owners and drivers.
The list of protected innovations also includes carpet mats made of hollow fibre fabric, which are particularly easy to clean and on which dirt is hardly visible.
Another patented Skoda invention is a flexible cargo snake that allows boxes, crates and other objects to be positioned more securely in the boot alongside luggage.
The brand has also successfully patented a production line camera system that can precisely align parts of the car body before welding.
The system allows the car body to be optimally positioned right from the start, making the welding process faster and more accurate. Four cameras determine the position of the car body and allow the path of the welding robots to be quickly adjusted as they operate.
