This article deals with the issue of deploying efficiently the ISO 26262: the new standard in automotive systems development. The directives enclosed in this norm demands the establishment of a product lifecycle fully integrating the safety assessment activities. To tackle this subject, this paper explores the way of setting up Model-Based Design methodology to express and organize the concepts manipulated during the ISO 26262 process. This attempt is founded on the use of SysML and on the creation of a profile dedicated to ISO 26262 development context. We provide an introduction to Model-Based Design paradigm and its appli-cation in a safety relevant context. An overview of ISO 26262 is given, followed by the description of an on-going project on the subject. Modeling propositions are formulated and the use of diverse SysML diagrams are mapped on the automotive safety lifecycle process.