-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Okn3jLuYpVMlRw7c0S3AGD6GS4bXlQEHQlDb3Hhw41mCIDqaP6YzMFhtPsnJ7zy/
 GP0wQIoCjL1WWCK7XnN2Xw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001034670-10-000035.txt : 20100528
<SEC-HEADER>0001034670-10-000035.hdr.sgml : 20100528
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100528101048
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001034670-10-000035
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100527
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100528
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100528

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NYBERG LARS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001229229

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12933
		FILM NUMBER:		10864603

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1700 S PATTESON BLVD
		CITY:			DAYTON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45479
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-05-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001229229</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NYBERG LARS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1700 S PATTESON BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DAYTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>45479</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-05-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>48.1</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Mr Nyberg purchased the shares of Common Stock at NASDAQ OMX in Stockholm at a price of SEK 384,81 per share. Based upon an exchange rate of SEK 8.00 to USD 1, the price for the share was USD 48.10.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lars Nyberg</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-05-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----