| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2021 |
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
| Principles of Consolidation | PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States (U.S.) Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and include Autoliv, Inc. and all companies over which Autoliv, Inc. directly or indirectly exercises control, which as a general rule means that the Company owns more than 50 % of the voting rights. Consolidation is also required when the Company has both the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity (VIE) and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could be significant to the VIE. All intercompany accounts and transactions within the Company have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements. Investments in affiliated companies in which the Company exercises significant influence over the operations and financial policies, but does not control, are reported using the equity method of accounting. Generally, the Company owns between 20 - 50 % of such investments. |
| Business Combinations | BUSINESS COMBINATIONS Transactions in which the Company obtains control of a business are accounted for according to the acquisition method as described in ASC 805, Business Combinations . The assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recognized and measured at their fair values as of the date control is obtained. Acquisition related costs in connection with a business combination are expensed as incurred. Contingent consideration is recognized and measured at fair value at the acquisition date and until paid is re-measured on a recurring basis and classified as a liability. |
| Equity Method Investment | EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENT Investments accounted for under the equity method, means that a proportional share of the equity method investment’s net income increases the investment, and a proportional share of losses and payment of dividends decreases it. In the Consolidated Statements of Income, the proportional share of the net income (loss) is reported as Income from equity method investment. |
| Use of Estimates | USE OF ESTIMATES The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the reporting period. The accounting estimates that require management’s most significant judgments include the estimation of variable consideration for the Company's contracts with customers, valuation of stock-based compensation payments, assessment of recoverability of goodwill and intangible assets, estimation of pension benefit obligations based on actuarial assumptions, estimation of accruals for warranty and recalls, restructuring charges, uncertain tax positions, valuation allowances and legal proceedings. Actual results could differ from those estimates. |
| Revenue Recognition | REVENUE RECOGNITION In accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers , revenue is measured based on consideration specified in a contract with a customer, adjusted for any variable consideration (i.e. price concessions) and estimated at contract inception. The estimated amount of variable consideration that will be received by the Company is based on historical experience and trends, management´s understanding of the status of negotiations with customers and anticipated future pricing strategies. The Company recognizes revenue when it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control over a product to a customer. In addition, from time to time, the Company may make payments to customers in connection with ongoing and future business. These payments to customers are generally recognized as a reduction to revenue at the time of the commitment to make these payments unless the payment can be clearly linked to the future business. If the payments are capitalized, the amounts are amortized to revenue as the related goods are transferred. Taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction and collected by the Company from a customer, are excluded from revenue. Shipping and handling costs associated with outbound freight before control of a product has transferred to a customer are accounted for as a fulfillment cost and are included in cost of sales. Nature of goods and services The Company generates revenue from the sale of parts, which includes airbag and seatbelt products and components, to original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”). The Company accounts for individual products separately if they are distinct (i.e., if a product is separately identifiable from other items and if a customer can benefit from it on its own or with other resources that are readily available to the customer). The consideration for each of the products, including any price concessions, is based on their stand-alone selling prices. The stand-alone selling prices are determined based on the cost-plus margin approach. The Company recognizes revenue for parts primarily at a point in time. For parts with revenue recognized at a point in time, the Company recognizes revenue upon shipment to the customers and transfer of title and risk of loss under standard commercial terms (typically FOB shipping point). There are certain contracts where the criteria to recognize revenue over time have been met (e.g., there is no alternative use to the Company and the Company has an enforceable right to payment). In such cases, at period end, the Company recognizes revenue and a related asset and associated cost of goods sold and reduction in inventory. However, the financial impact of these contracts is immaterial considering the very short production cycles and limited inventory days on hand. The contract balances with customers, included in other current assets, amounted to $ 20 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. The amount of revenue recognized is based on the purchase order price and adjusted for variable consideration (i.e. price concessions). Customers typically pay for the parts based on customary business practices. |
| Government Grants | GOVERNMENT GRANTS Generally, the Company receives grants related to assets or grants related to income. The Company account for government grants as follows depending on which category the grants fall into. Government grants connected to Capital Expenditure are offset against the capitalized costs of the asset in the balance sheet when: a) all performance obligations connected to the government grant have been fulfilled; and b) the cash has been received. Other government grants including those reimbursing expenses are recognized in the profit and loss when: a) all performance obligations connected to the government grant have been fulfilled; and b) the cash has been received. When the cash has been received but there are outstanding performance obligations connected to the government grants received, the cash received is recognized as other payables and offset against the capitalized costs when the outstanding performance obligations are fulfilled. |
| Research, Development and Engineering, Net | RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING, NET (R,D&E) Re search and development and most engineering expenses are expensed as incurred. These expenses are reported net of expense reimbursements from contracts to perform engineering design and product development fulfillment activities related to the production of parts. For t he year s 2021, 2020 and 2019 total reimbursements from customers were $ 203 million, $ 181 million and $ 199 millio n, respectively. Certain engineering expenses related to long-term supply arrangements are capitalized when defined criteria, such as the existence of a contractual guarantee for reimbursement, are met. The aggregate amount of such assets is not significant in any period presented. Tooling is generally agreed upon as a separate contract or a separate component of an engineering contract, as a pre-production project. Capitalization of tooling costs is made only when the specific criteria for capitalization of customer funded tooling is met or the criteria for capitalization as Property, Plant & Equipment (P,P&E) for tools owned by the Company are fulfilled. Depreciation on the Company’s own tooling is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income as Cost of sales. |
| Stock Based Compensation | STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION The compensation costs for all of the Company’s stock-based compensation awards are determined based on the fair value method as defined in ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation . The Company records the compensation expense for awards under the Stock Incentive Plan, including Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), Performance Shares (PSs) and stock options (SOs), over the respective vesting period. For further details, see Note 16. |
| Income Taxes | INCOME TAXES Current tax liabilities and assets are recognized for the estimated taxes payable or refundable on the tax returns for the current year. In certain circumstances, payments or refunds may extend beyond twelve months, in such cases amounts would be classified as non-current taxes payable or receivable. Deferred tax liabilities or assets are recognized for the estimated future tax effects attributable to temporary differences and carryforwards that result from events that have been recognized in either the financial statements or the tax returns, but not both. The measurement of current and deferred tax liabilities and assets is based on provisions of enacted tax laws. Deferred tax assets are reduced by the amount of any tax benefits that are not expected to be realized. A valuation allowance is recognized if, based on the weight of all available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. Evaluation of the realizability of deferred tax assets is subject to significant judgment requiring careful consideration of all facts and circumstances. The Company classifies deferred tax assets and liabilities as non-current in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Tax assets and liabilities are not offset unless attributable to the same tax jurisdiction and netting is possible according to law and, as it relates to payables and receivables, expected to take place in the same period. Tax benefits associated with tax positions taken in the Company’s income tax returns are initially recognized when it is more likely than not that those tax positions will be sustained upon examination by the relevant taxing authorities. The Company’s evaluation of its tax benefits is based on the probability of the tax position being upheld if challenged by the taxing authorities (including through negotiation, appeals, settlement and litigation). Whenever a tax position does not meet the initial recognition criteria, the tax benefit is subsequently recognized if there is a substantive change in the facts and circumstances that cause a change in judgment concerning the sustainability of the tax position upon examination by the relevant taxing authorities. In cases where tax benefits meet the initial recognition criterion, the Company continues, in subsequent periods, to assess its ability to sustain those positions. A previously recognized tax benefit is derecognized when it is no longer more likely than not that the tax position would be sustained upon examination. Liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits are classified as non-current unless the payment of the liability is expected to be made within the next 12 months. |
| Earnings Per Share | EARNINGS PER SHARE The Company calculates basic earnings per share (EPS) by dividing net income attributable to controlling interest by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period (net of treasury shares). The Company’s unvested RSUs and PSs, of which some include the right to receive non-forfeitable dividend equivalents, are considered participating securities. The diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if common stock was issued for awards under the Stock Incentive Plan and is calculated using the more dilutive method of either the two-class method or the treasury stock method. The treasury stock method assumes that the Company uses the proceeds from the exercise of stock option awards to repurchase ordinary shares at the average market price during the period. For unvested restricted stock, assumed proceeds under the treasury stock method will include unamortized compensation cost and windfall tax benefits or shortfalls. Post spin-off assumed proceeds under the treasury stock method related to RSUs will only include unamortized compensation cost related to Autoliv employees holding Autoliv RSUs. Calculations of EPS under the two-class method exclude from the numerator any dividends paid or owed on participating securities and any undistributed earnings considered to be attributable to participating securities. The related participating securities are similarly excluded from the denominator. For further details, se e Notes 16 and 21. |
| Cash Equivalents | CASH EQUIVALENTS The Company considers all highly liquid investment instruments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. |
| Receivables and Allowance for Expected Credit Losses | RECEIVABLES AND ALLOWANCE FOR EXPECTED CREDIT LOSSES In addition to individually assess overdue customer balances for expected credit losses, the Company also calculates an allowance that reflects the expected credit losses on receivables considering both historical experience as well as forward looking assumptions. The method calculates the expected credit loss for a group of customers by using the customer groups’ average short-term default rates based on officially published credit ratings and the Company’s historical experience. These default rates are considered the Company’s best estimate of the customer’s ability to pay. The Company regularly reassess the customer group’s and the applied customer group’s default rates by using its best judgement when considering changes in customer’s credit ratings, customer’s historical payments and loss experience, current market and economic conditions and the Company’s expectations of future market and economic conditions. There can be no assurance that the amount ultimately realized for receivables will not be materially different than that assumed in the calculation of the allowance for expected credit losses. |
| Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities | DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES All derivatives are recognized at fair value. Hedge accounting is not applied either because non-hedge accounting treatment creates the same accounting result or the hedge does not meet the hedge accounting requirements, although entered into applying the same rationale concerning mitigating market risk that occurs from changes in interest and foreign exchange rates. For further details on the Company’s financial instruments, se e Notes 4 and 13. |
| Inventories | INVENTORIES The cost of inventories is computed according to the first-in first-out method (FIFO). Cost includes the cost of materials, direct labor and the applicable share of manufacturing overhead. Inventories are evaluated based on individual or, in some cases, groups of inventory items. Reserves are established to reduce the value of inventories to the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. Excess inventories are quantities of items that exceed anticipated sales or usage for a reasonable period. The Company calculates provisions for excess inventories based on the number of months of inventories on hand compared to anticipated sales or usage. Management uses its judgment to forecast sales or usage and to determine what constitutes a reasonable period. There can be no assurance that the amount ultimately realized for inventories will not be materially different than that assumed in the calculation of the reserves. |
| Property, Plant and Equipment | PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT Property, Plant and Equipment is recorded at historical cost. Construction in progress generally involves short-term projects for which capitalized interest is not significant. The Company provides for depreciation of property, plant and equipment computed under the straight-line method over the assets’ estimated useful lives, or in the case of leasehold improvements over the shorter of the useful life or the lease term. Amortization on capital leases is recognized with depreciation expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income over the shorter of the assets’ expected life or the lease contract term. Repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. |
| Leases | LEASES In accordance with ASC 842, Leases , the Company recognizes contracts that is, or contains, a lease when the contract conveys the right to control the use of a physically identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration in the balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and lease liability. The Company recognizes a right-of-use asset and a lease liability at lease commencement. The lease liability for both finance and operating leases is measured at the present value of the remaining lease payments, discounted at the Company's incremental borrowing rate (if the implicit interest rate in the lease contract is not readily determinable). The right-of-use asset (ROU) for finance and operating leases is initially measured at the sum of the Initial lease liability plus initial direct costs plus prepaid lease payments minus lease incentives received. Lease payments include undiscounted fixed payments plus optional payments that are reasonably certain to be owed. Lease payments do not include variable lease payments other than those that depend on an index or rate. Variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate are included in the calculation of lease payments and in the measurement of the lease liability. If the rate implicit in the lease is not readily determinable, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate as the discount rate. The Company uses its best judgement when determining the incremental borrowing rate, which is the rate of interest that the Company would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term to the lease payments in a similar currency. The Company has elected the practical expedient of not separating lease components from non-lease components for all its classes of underlying assets. The Company has also elected to recognize the lease payments for short-term leases in its consolidated statement of income on a straight-line basis over the lease term and recognize the variable lease payments in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred. Finance lease right-of-use assets are presented together with other property, plant and equipment assets and finance lease liabilities are presented together with other current and non-current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For further details on the Company’s leases, see Note 3 . |
| Long-Lived Asset Impairment | LONG-LIVED ASSET IMPAIRMENT The Company evaluates the carrying value and useful lives of long-lived assets, other than goodwill and intangible assets, when indications of impairment are evident or it is likely that the useful lives have decreased, in which case the Company depreciates the assets over the remaining useful lives. Impairment testing is primarily done by using the cash flow method based on undiscounted future cash flows. Estimated undiscounted cash flows for a long-lived asset being evaluated for recoverability are compared with the respective carrying amount of that asset. If the estimated undiscounted cash flows exceed the carrying amount of the assets, the carrying amounts of the long-lived asset are considered recoverable and an impairment cannot be recorded. However, if the carrying amount of a group of assets exceeds the undiscounted cash flows, an entity must then measure the long-lived assets’ fair value to determine whether an impairment loss should be recognized, generally using a discounted cash flow model. Generally, the lowest level of cash flows for impairment assessment is customer platform level. |
| Goodwill and Intangible Assets | GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of consideration transferred over the fair value of net assets of businesses acquired. Goodwill is not amortized but subject to at least an annual review for impairment. Other intangible assets, principally related to acquired technology, are amortized over their useful lives which range from 3 to 25 years . The Company performs its annual impairment testing in the fourth quarter of each year. Impairment testing is required more often than annually if an event or circumstance indicates that an impairment, or decline in value, may have occurred. The Company uses either a qualitative assessment or a quantitative calculation for its impairment testing. The qualitative assessment permits the Company to assess whether it is more than likely than not (i.e. a likelihood of greater than 50%) that goodwill or an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. If the Company concludes based on the qualitative assessment that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of goodwill or an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount, it would not have to quantitatively determine the asset’s fair value. The Company also consider external factors that could affect the significant inputs used to determine fair value. In 2021, the Company performed a quantitative impairment test by calculating the fair value of its goodwill. The estimated fair market value of goodwill is determined by the discounted cash flow method. The Company discounts projected operating cash flows using its weighted average cost of capital. Estimating the fair value requires the Company to make judgments about appropriate discount rates, growth rates, relevant comparable company earnings multiples and the amount and timing of expected future cash flows. If the estimated fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill is considered not to be impaired. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair value, an impairment loss is recognized for the excess of carrying amount over the fair value of the respective reporting unit. To supplement this analysis, the Company compares the market value of its equity, calculated by reference to the quoted market prices of its shares, with the book value of its equity. There were no impairments of goodwill from 2019 through 2021 . |
| Warranties and Recalls | WARRANTIES AND RECALLS The Company records liabilities for product recalls when probable claims are identified and when it is possible to reasonably estimate costs. Recall costs are costs incurred when the customer decides to formally recall a product due to a known or suspected safety concern. Product recall costs are estimated based on the expected cost of replacing the product and the customer´s cost of carrying out the recall, which is affected by the number of vehicles subject to recall and the cost of labor and materials to remove and replace the defective product. Insurance receivables, related to recall issues covered by the insurance, are included within other current and non-current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Provisions for warranty claims are estimated based on prior experience, likely changes in performance of newer products and the mix and volume of products sold. The provisions are recorded on an accrual basis. |
| Restructuring Provisions | RESTRUCTURING PROVISIONS The Company defines restructuring expense to include costs directly associated with rightsizing, exit or disposal activities. Estimates of restructuring charges are based on information available at the time such charges are recorded. In general, management anticipates that restructuring activities will be completed within a timeframe such that significant changes to the exit plan are not likely. Due to inherent uncertainty involved in estimating restructuring expenses, actual amounts paid for such activities may differ from amounts initially estimated. |
| Pension Obligations | PENSION OBLIGATIONS The Company provides for both defined contribution plans and defined benefit plans. A defined contribution plan generally specifies the periodic amount that the employer must contribute to the plan and how that amount will be allocated to the eligible employees who perform services during the same period. A defined benefit pension plan is one that contains pension benefit formulas, which generally determine the amount of pension benefits that each employee will receive for services performed during a specified period of employmen t. The amount recognized as a defined benefit liability is the net total of projected benefit obligation (PBO) minus the fair value of plan assets (if any) (see Note 18). |
| Contingent Liabilities | CONTINGENT LIABILITIES Various claims, lawsuits and proceedings are pending or threatened against the Company or its subsidiaries, covering a range of matters that arise in the ordinary course of its business activities with respect to commercial, product liability or other matters (see Note 12). The Company diligently defends itself in such matters and, in addition, carries insurance coverage to the extent reasonably available against insurable risks. The Company records liabilities for claims, lawsuits and proceedings when they are probable and it is possible to reasonably estimate the cost of such liabilities. Legal costs expected to be incurred in connection with a loss contingency are expensed as such costs are incurred. The Company believes, based on currently available information, that the resolution of outstanding matters, other than any antitrust related matters described in Note 17 a fter taking into account recorded liabilities and available insurance coverage, should not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. However, due to the inherent uncertainty associated with such matters, there can be no assurance that the final outcomes of these matters will not be materially different than currently estimated. |
| Translation of Non-U. S. Subsidiaries and Receivables and Liabilities in Non-Functional Currencies | TRANSLATION OF NON-U.S. SUBSIDIARIES The balance sheets of subsidiaries with functional currency other than U.S. dollars are translated into U.S. dollars using year-end exchange rates. The Statements of Income of these subsidiaries is translated into U.S. dollars using the average exchange rates for the year. Translation differences are reflected in equity as a component of OCI. RECEIVABLES AND LIABILITIES IN NON-FUNCTIONAL CURRENCIES Receivables and liabilities not denominated in functional currencies are converted at year-end exchange rates. Net transaction losses, reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income, amounted to $( 29 ) million in 2021, $( 24 ) million in 2020 and $( 15 ) million in 2019, a nd are recorded in operating income if they relate to operational receivables and liabilities or are recorded in other non-operating items, net if they relate to financial receivables and liabilities. |
| New Accounting Standards | NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS Changes to U.S. GAAP are established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) in the form of accounting standards updates (“ASUs”) to the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification (ASC). The Company considers the applicability and impact of all ASUs. ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are expected to have an immaterial impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Adoption of New Accounting Standards In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740), Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes , which simplifies the accounting for income taxes. ASU 2019-12 is effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020, and early adoption is permitted. The amendments related to changes in ownership of foreign equity method investments or foreign subsidiaries should be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The Company adopted ASU 2019-12 as of January 1, 2021, and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. Accounting Standards Issued But Not Yet Adopted None that are expected to have an impact on the Company. |
| Reclassifications and Roundings | RECLASSIFICATIONS AND ROUNDINGS Certain prior-year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation. Certain amounts in the consolidated financial statements and associated notes may not reconcile due to rounding. All percentages have been calculated using unrounded amounts. |
| Financial Instruments | The Company uses derivative financial instruments, “derivatives”, as part of its debt management to mitigate the market risk that occurs from its exposure to changes in interest and foreign exchange rates. The Company does not enter into derivatives for trading or other speculative purposes. The Company’s use of derivatives is in accordance with the strategies contained in the Company’s overall financial policy. All derivatives are recognized in the consolidated financial statements at fair value. Certain derivatives are from time to time designated either as fair value hedges or cash flow hedges in line with the hedge accounting criteria. For certain other derivatives hedge accounting is not applied either because non-hedge accounting treatment creates the same accounting result or the hedge does not meet the hedge accounting requirements, although entered into applying the same rationale concerning mitigating market risk that occurs from changes in interest and foreign exchange rates. The degree of judgment utilized in measuring the fair value of the instruments generally correlates to the level of pricing observability. Pricing observability is impacted by several factors, including the type of asset or liability, whether the asset or liability has an established market and the characteristics specific to the transaction. Instruments with readily active quoted prices or for which fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices generally will have a higher degree of pricing observability and a lesser degree of judgment utilized in measuring fair value. Conversely, assets rarely traded or not quoted will generally have less, or no, pricing observability and a higher degree of judgment utilized in measuring fair value. Under U.S. GAAP, there is a disclosure framework hierarchy associated with the level of pricing observability utilized in measuring assets and liabilities at fair value. The three broad levels defined by the hierarchy are as follows: Level 1 - Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reported date. Level 2 - Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reported date. The nature of these assets and liabilities include items for which quoted prices are available but traded less frequently, and items that are fair valued using other financial instruments, the parameters of which can be directly observed. Level 3 - Assets and liabilities that have little to no pricing observability as of the reported date. These items do not have two-way markets and are measured using management’s best estimate of fair value, where the inputs into the determination of fair value require significant management judgment or estimation. The Company’s derivatives are all classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The Company has determined that the fair value measurements included in each of these assets and liabilities rely primarily on Company-specific inputs and the Company’s assumptions about the use of the assets and settlements of liabilities, as observable inputs are not available. The Company has determined that each of these fair value measurements reside within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. To determine the fair value of long-lived assets as of the reporting date, the Company utilizes the projected cash flows expected to be generated by the long-lived assets, then discounts the future cash flows over the expected life of the long-lived assets. For the period 2019-2021, the Co mpany did no t record any material impairment charges on its long-lived assets for its continuing operations. |
