A side panel arrangement for a vehicle having a cladding arrangement including a first cladding element covering at least one pillar section made from a flexible and/or bendable material, and an airbag module with an inflatable airbag. The airbag module is arranged so as to be concealed behind the first cladding element. A first end side of the first cladding element is configured to border a door opening and to be fastened to the vehicle pillar. The first end side is releasable from the vehicle pillar 4 to create an outlet for the inflating airbag when the airbag module activated, or wherein the outlet for the inflating airbag is created in a base material of the first cladding element.