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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001034670-06-000017.txt : 20060110
<SEC-HEADER>0001034670-06-000017.hdr.sgml : 20060110
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060110091634
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001034670-06-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060109
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060110
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060110

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Carlson Jan
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001321553

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12933
		FILM NUMBER:		06520907

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		46-8-587-20-600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AUTOLIV, INC., WORLD TRADE CENTER
		STREET 2:		KLARABERGSVIADUKTEN 70
		CITY:			STOCKHOLM
		STATE:			V7
		ZIP:			SE-107 24

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AUTOLIV INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001034670
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS & ACCESSORIES [3714]
		IRS NUMBER:				510378542
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3350 AIRPORT RD
		CITY:			OGDEN
		STATE:			UT
		ZIP:			84405
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8016299800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BOX 70381
		STREET 2:		SE 107 24 STOCKHOLM
		CITY:			SWEDEN
		STATE:			V7
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-01-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001034670</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AUTOLIV INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001321553</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Carlson Jan</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AUTOLIV, INC., WORLD TRADE CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>KLARABERGSVIADUKTEN 70</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STOCKHOLM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>V7</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>SE-107 24</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>SWEDEN</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP Engineering</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-01-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1667</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-01-09</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-01-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1667</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19667</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>49.6</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-01-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-01-09</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-01-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19667</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Restricted Stock Units and the Stock Options were granted under the Company's Stock Incentive Plan of 1997 as amended and are free of charge for the officers.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 3917 RSU's and 15750 Stock Options.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jan Carlson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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