Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Mar. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements	2 Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In March 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2017-07, Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715) - Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which requires the service cost component to be reported in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the consolidated statements of net income separately from the service cost component and outside operating income. The amendments in ASU 2017-07 are effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an annual period for which financial statements (interim or annual) have not been issued or made available for issuance. The amendments in ASU 2017-07 should be applied retrospectively for the presentation of the service cost component and the other components of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost in the consolidated statements of net income. At the expected adoption as of January 1, 2018, the Company estimates that approximately $5-7 million of the net benefit cost will be reclassified from Operating Income to Other non-operating items, net in the consolidated statements of net income. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) – Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating step 2 from the goodwill impairment test, which measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount. Instead, entities should perform annual or interim goodwill impairment tests by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognize an impairment charge for the excess of carrying amount over the fair value of the respective reporting unit. The amendments in ASU 2017-04 are effective for public business entities for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company early adopted ASU 2017-04 effective January 1, 2017. As this standard is prospective in nature, the impact to our financial statements by not performing step 2 to measure the amount of any potential goodwill impairment will depend on various factors. However, the elimination of step 2 will reduce the complexity and cost of the subsequent measurement of goodwill. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805) – Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which provides a screen to determine when an integrated set of assets and activities is not a business. The screen requires that when substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired (or disposed of) is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets, the set is not a business. The amendments in ASU 2017-01 are effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those periods. ASU 2017-01 should be applied prospectively. Early adoption is allowed. The Company early adopted ASU 2017-01 effective January 1, 2017 for new transactions that have not been reported in financial statements that have been issued or made available for issuance. As this standard is prospective in nature, the impact to our financial statements will depend on the nature of our future acquisitions. In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) – Restricted Cash, which requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The amendments in ASU 2016-18 are effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The amendments in ASU 2016-18 should be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. The Company early adopted ASU 2016-18 effective January 1, 2017. The adoption of ASU 2016-18 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements for any period presented. In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740) – Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory, which requires an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. Current GAAP prohibits the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity asset transfer until the asset has been sold to an outside party. Consequently, the amendments in this ASU 2016-16 eliminate the exception for an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory. Two common examples of assets included in the scope of ASU 2016-16 are intellectual property and property, plant, and equipment. The amendments in ASU 2016-16 are effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an annual reporting period for which financial statements (interim or annual) have not been issued or made available for issuance. The amendments in ASU 2016-16 should be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of ASU 2016-16 on our consolidated financial statements. In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) – Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which provides guidance on reducing the diversity in practice on eight cash flow classification issues and how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The amendments in ASU 2016-15 are effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. If an entity early adopts the amendments in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the annual period that includes that interim period. The amendments in ASU 2016-15 should be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. The Company early adopted ASU 2016-15 effective January 1, 2017. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements for any period presented. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which requires measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held and requires enhanced disclosures regarding significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses. ASU 2016-13 is effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and early adoption is permitted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of ASU 2016-13 on our consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718), which simplifies the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. For public business entities, the amendments in ASU 2016-09 are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Amendments related to the timing of when excess tax benefits are recognized, minimum statutory withholding requirements, forfeitures, and intrinsic value should be applied using a modified retrospective transition method by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity as of the beginning of the period in which the guidance is adopted. Amendments related to the presentation of employee taxes paid on the statement of cash flows when an employer withholds shares to meet the minimum statutory withholding requirement should be applied retrospectively. Amendments requiring recognition of excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies in the income statement and the practical expedient for estimating expected term should be applied prospectively. An entity may elect to apply the amendments related to the presentation of excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows using either a prospective transition method or a retrospective transition method. The Company adopted ASU 2016-09 effective January 1, 2017 and has elected to recognize forfeitures as they occur. The adoption of ASU 2016-09 did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements for any period presented. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 affects any entity that enters into a lease, with some specified scope exceptions. For public business entities, the amendments in ASU 2016-02 are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early application is permitted for all entities. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial statements, which will require right of use assets and lease liabilities to be recorded in the consolidated balance sheet for finance and operating leases. In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330), which requires an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost and 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. Subsequent measurement is unchanged for inventory measured using LIFO or the retail inventory method. For public business entities, ASU 2015-11 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and should be applied prospectively. The adoption of ASU 2015-11 did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements for any periods presented. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which outlines a single, comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance issued by the FASB, including industry specific guidance. In 2016 the FASB issued accounting standard updates to address implementation issues and to clarify guidance on identifying performance obligations, licenses and determining if a company is a principal or an agent. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be receive in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, ASU 2014-09 requires certain additional disclosure around the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The Company intends to adopt ASU 2014-09 in the annual period beginning January 1, 2018. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or modified retrospective (cumulative effect) transition method. The Company intends to apply the modified retrospective transition method. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its operations, consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures. The Company’s implementation process has included the identification of a dedicated lead project manager as well as a cross-functional project steering committee responsible for assessing the impact that the new standard will have on the Company’s accounting, financial statement presentation and disclosure for contracts with customers. The implementation team is finalizing its assessment phase of the project. This phase of the project has included the identification of the key revenue streams and the comparison of historical accounting policies and practices to the requirements of the new standard by revenue stream. The assessment has resulted in the identification of potential accounting differences that may arise from the application of the new standard. The implementation team has also made substantial progress in the contract review phase of the project which includes identifying the population of contracts for a deeper analysis of the potential accounting impacts due to the new standard for individual contracts. The implementation team has also begun the process of identifying changes to business processes, systems and controls to support recognition, presentation and disclosure under the new standard. The Company anticipates that the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will primarily impact the timing of revenue recognition for certain production parts contracts and will result in some changes to revenue related disclosures and financial statement presentation. For certain contracts, the production parts are highly customized products with no alternative use and the Company has an enforceable right to payment (with a reasonable margin) for performance completed to date. As a result, for these contracts, the Company will recognize revenue over time as the parts are being produced against firm orders received from the customer. Consistent with current treatment, shipping and handling costs associated with outbound shipments, after control of the product has transferred to a customer, will be accounted for as a fulfillment cost and included in cost of sales. In addition, certain payments made to customers in connection with future contracts may be deferred and amortized over future periods. The Company is continuing to assess the impact of the new standard.
Financial Instruments	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. When a hedge is classified as a fair value hedge, the change in the fair value of the hedge is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Net Income along with the off-setting change in the fair value of the hedged item. When a hedge is classified as a cash flow hedge, any change in the fair value of the hedge is initially recorded in equity as a component of Other Comprehensive Income (OCI) and reclassified into the Consolidated Statements of Net Income when the hedge transaction affects net earnings. The Company uses the forward rate with respect to the measurement of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges when revaluing foreign exchange forward contracts. There were no material reclassifications from OCI to the Consolidated Statements of Net Income during the first three months of 2017. Any ineffectiveness in the first three months of 2017 was not material. The Company’s derivatives are all classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy and there have been no transfers between the levels during this or comparable periods (for further information, see Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016).
Inventories	Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (principally FIFO) and net realizable value.
Restructuring Provisions	Restructuring provisions are made on a case-by-case basis and primarily include severance costs incurred in connection with headcount reductions and plant consolidations.
Contingent Liabilities	Autoliv’s warranty reserves are based upon the Company’s best estimates of amounts necessary to settle future and existing claims. The Company regularly evaluates the adequacy of these reserves, and adjusts them when appropriate. However, the final amounts actually due related to these matters could differ materially from the Company’s recorded estimates.
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 diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if common stock were issued for awards under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan.