AI‑manipulated image (temporary product rendering). Source: iSi Wearables; AI edit: wemakestories
As cycling surges across Europe, Hövding returns in autumn 2026 with a new generation engineered by iSi Wearables. Hövding is the airbag for urban cyclists: worn like a collar around the neck, it deploys within 0.1 seconds in the event of an accident. Hövding 4 brings automotive‑grade safety to urban cycling aiming to set a European benchmark for wearable protection.
April 7th 2026, Vienna – Cycling continues to accelerate across Europe, supported by infrastructure investments and changing mobility habits. With that growth, expectations are shifting to protection that is reliable and convenient for everyday use. iSi Wearables meets this moment by translating automotive safety rigor into a wearable.
Hövding 4 marks a complete product reset – re‑engineered from the ground up after iSi's acquisition of the brand and IP in 2024. With a Europe‑wide market launch planned for autumn 2026 and a refreshed website on hovding.com, iSi Wearables is positioning Hövding as the category reference for intelligent airbag protection in urban mobility. The concept has already been adopted by over half a million cyclists across Europe – now iSi Wearables is taking it to the next level.
Automotive expertise as innovation driver
Hövding 4 is developed by iSi Wearables, the innovation unit behind the product and part of Austrian iSi Group – a sixth-generation family-owned company with a strong focus on research and engineering. The development draws on decades of airbag expertise from the iSi Automotive division, which has long supplied safety systems to international automotive manufacturers.
“For us, Automotive Grade Safety is not just a slogan. It is a way of working: how we select suppliers to meet our standards, how we validate each development stage and set up rigorous testing procedures. Hövding 4 stands for a new level of trust – built on testing, engineering precision and decades of protecting lives”, says Alexander Haag, Managing Director at iSi Wearables.
Hövding 4 - Tested. Trusted. Transformed.
Hövding 4 represents a complete technological reset. Rebuilt from the inside out, the system combines AI‑supported sensor technology with a new neural model for accident detection, 5× more processing power for high‑fidelity motion analysis, advanced airbag folding and deployment dynamics derived from automotive programs, and a re‑engineered software and electronics architecture.
The development follows a comprehensive validation approach – from intensive internal test cycles to extensive real‑world testing scenarios in iSi's R&D environment. The result: a system designed to be almost invisible while cycling and reliable in decisive moments.
Designed for everyday use
Hövding 4 is designed as an airbag for urban cyclists that fits naturally into daily routines. Its collar-based design offers an alternative approach to cyclist safety – focusing on ease of use without compromising protection or style.
The system reflects a broader shift towards human-centred safety solutions, placing the cyclist at the core of product development.
About iSi Wearables
iSi Wearable Safety GmbH is iSi Group's division for wearable protection and the new owner of Hövding. The company combines human‑centred design with automotive‑grade safety engineering to redefine protection in modern mobility.
About iSi Group
iSi Group is an international industrial group headquartered in Vienna, operating in Culinary, Components, Automotive and Wearables. iSi Automotive is a Tier‑1 supplier of passive safety systems to global car manufacturers, designing and manufacturing airbag solutions with around 4,000 employees in six countries.
Company contact:
iSi Wearable Safety GmbH
Kürschnergasse 4
1210 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43 1 246-0
e-mail: Info.Wearables@isi.com
web: wearables.isi.com | hovding.com
Agency contact:
PUNKT PR GmbH
Benjamin Kolthoff
Völckersstraße 44
22765 Hamburg
Email: bkolthoff@punkt-pr.de
Sales contact Nordics:
MnO International AB
Albin Halldin
Email: hovding@mno.se
Web: www.mno.se
Sales contact Germany:
Sports Nut GmbH
Thorben Kriener
Email: t.kriener@sports-nut.de
Web: www.sports-nut.de
Sales contact Benelux :
Action Sports SRL
Lieve Boon
Email : lieve@actionsports.be
Web : www.actionsports.be