Overview
- NHTSA is issuing five technical documents detailing specifications and performance to enable formal adoption in rulemaking and ratings.
- Automakers may purchase and run trials of the THOR-05F immediately as federal compliance use is phased in over several years.
- Built by Humanetics, the model carries more than 150 sensors to gauge brain, facial, abdominal, pelvic and lower‑leg injuries with lifelike spine and posture response.
- Decades of reliance on Hybrid III models—largely a scaled 5th‑percentile female—left sex‑specific injury patterns undermeasured in driver‑seat tests.
- Safety groups and bipartisan backers of the She DRIVES Act welcomed the move, while some automakers caution the new data could upend current seat belt and airbag evaluations.