Retirement Plans (Schedule Of Fair Value Of Total Plan Assets) (Details)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity securities, Target allocation	50.00%
U.S. [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity securities, Fair value allocation	66.00%	66.00%
Debt securities, Fair value allocation	34.00%	34.00%
Total, Fair value allocation	100.00%	100.00%
Equity securities, Target allocation	65.00%
Debt instruments, Target allocation	35.00%
Total, Target allocation	100.00%
Non-U.S. [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity securities, Fair value allocation	12.00%	11.00%
Debt securities, Fair value allocation	59.00%	48.00%
Other assets, Fair value allocation	29.00%	41.00%
Total, Fair value allocation	100.00%	100.00%

Defined benefit plan weighted average target allocation.

No definition available.

Name:	alv_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageTargetAllocation
Namespace Prefix:	alv_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of the fair value of debt securities to the fair value of total plan assets held as of the measurement date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph d(1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e2446-114920

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDebtSecurities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of the fair value of equity securities to the fair value of total plan assets held as of the measurement date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanEquitySecurities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage of the fair value of investments other than debt securities, equity securities, and real estate to the fair value of total plan assets held as of the measurement date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanOtherPlanAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Target allocation percentage of investments in debt securities to total plan assets presented on a weighted-average basis as of the measurement date of the latest statement of financial position.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph d(2)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (c)(i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e2446-114920

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)(i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetAllocationPercentageOfAssetsDebtSecurities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Target allocation percentage of investments in equity securities to total plan assets presented on a weighted-average basis as of the measurement date of the latest statement of financial position.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetAllocationPercentageOfAssetsEquitySecurities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate percentage of the fair value of investments (categorized by debt securities, equity securities, real estate and other plan assets) to the fair value of total plan assets held as of the measurement date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant