Back in 1927 in Gothenburg, Sweeden the company we know as Volvo was established with the idea of safety as paramount in their designs. The company’s goal was to design cars that were not only safe, but built in a way that they were equipped to handle the harsh Swedish winter weather and keep their passengers safe through the worst driving conditions. Volvo (which name in Latin means “I roll”) produced their first car in April 1927 with the name Volvo ÖV 4 and a surprising open top. After realizing that the “Öppen Vagn 4 cylindrar” (Open Wagon 4 cylinder) was not going to be ideal in the Swedish winters, a closed top version, the PV4, was quickly introduced that summer.
WWII and Volvo’s Entrance Into the American Market
During the war years Volvo, like nearly all manufactures had to slow production to contend with the war effort. When the war was coming to an end, however, Volvo presented their newest car the PV444, which would eventually change Volvo’s trajectory and launch them into the American public. Though the PV444 was first displayed in 1944, it was not able to be put into production until 3 years later in 1977. The car was inspired by American car design styles and was smaller than Volvo’s previous models. With this size economy, the cost of the car was small as well, initially priced the same as the OV4 from two decades before. Though the original production run was supposed to be only 8,000 cars, the actual run ended up being nearly 200,000 before the updated PV544 was released in 1958.
Volvos were first imported into the US in 1955, and by 1963 there was already a plant in Halifax, Nova Scotia which was Volvo’s first factory outside of Sweden. Volvos continued to gain popularity all over North America, and excitement continued to build with each new model.
Volvo’s History of Innovative Safety: Putting People First
From the beginning it was important for Volvo’s manufacturers to have a focus on safety. A quote from their CEO Assar Gabrielsson and technical manager Gustav Larson back from 1927 says, “Cars are driven by people. The guiding principle behind everything we make at Volvo, therefore, is and must remain, safety.” While Volvos continue to have high safety standards to this day, we can already see Volvo’s safety innovations from the beginning.
Back in 1959 when many cars didn’t even come equipped with safety belts, Volvo’s head of safety engineering Nils Bohlin introduced the three-point safety belt (now standard on cars) on their Amazon and PV544 models. The patent for the three-point system was then made open so that other car designers could use it in the interest of public safety. Even earlier than that, back in 1944, laminated safety glass (another standard modern car feature) was installed in the PV model.
As time went on, Volvo continued to innovate, introducing the first rear facing car seat for a child in 1964, as well as the introduction of crumple zones and collapsible steering columns. Volvos pioneered the development of side impact airbags in 1994. In 1998, an airbag that was especially designed to protect the head was introduced, and in 2004 the Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) was introduced, which helped to inform drivers of vehicles traveling in their car’s blind spots, and using an indicator light to alert the driver. And this list barely scratches the surface.
The Future of Volvo and the Environment
Back in 2017, Volvo made the stunning announcement that starting in 2019 every new Volvo type would have an electric motor. The company plans to move from standard internal combustion engines to hybrid and completely electric vehicles. Volvo’s goal is to have 50% of their new vehicles partially or fully electric by 2025, an impact that would make over a million cars follow the hybrid/electric standard.
Though the look of the cars have changed significantly over Volvo’s near century-long existence, Volvo’s commitment to safety, quality, and innovation has never faltered. From passenger safety belts to their new commitment to serving the environment, Volvo’s legacy continues to impress the world over.
