Inflatable bolster in a vehicle bumper

A bumper system 12 has a plastic bolster 14 mounted in a space between outer bumper skin and an inner bumper beam 18. An inflator is communicatively coupled to a controller 26 and arranged to inflate a plastic bolster. The bolster may be provided with corrugated sides, where the corrugated sides form a set of folds that accommodate deployment of the bolster. Each of the folds extends for a length of the inner bumper. The folds allow the bolster to expand from an un-deployed state to a deployed state. The bolster may includes a weld 20 to affix the bolster to an outer bumper 16. The bumper system is particularly intended to provide protection to a pedestrian in the event of a collision.