Abstract: An energy-management device is provided for occupant protection in side-impact events and is designed to meet FMVSS214 and IIHS barrier tests. The energy-management device is designed to be part of a side door trim panel of a vehicle and forms the “A-surface” around a first area where the shoulder/thorax of an occupant would be located and around a second area where a pelvis of an occupant would be located when seated in a vehicle seat of the vehicle. The energy-management device may be constructed out of a blow-molded compounded material such as, for example, Thermoplastic Polyolefin plastic (TPO).