Safety has always been the primary focus of the Swedish automaker Volvo. Its approach towards making vehicles with cutting-edge technology solutions is genuinely commendable.
Volvo Cars started producing automobiles in Sweden in 1927. Today, Volvo is a global brand with sales in about 100 countries and is expanding its wings in terms of innovation and world-leading safety technology. Its history of game-changing achievements positions Volvo Cars as one of the most respected and recognizable car brands globally.
From the very first Volvo Car nicknamed 'Jakob', the brand has maintained its quality standards to create highly regarded cars not only for their durability but also for their outstanding quality. Volvo has continually set new benchmarks in the automotive industry and here's how they created the safest cars in the world.
Volvo's Significant Firsts
Volvo Cars moves forward by constantly ideating on and developing new technologies. Innovation is in its DNA, a spirit that forms the basis for its ambitions in the coming years within the fields of electrification, safety, autonomous drive, and connectivity.
Volvo Cars have a rich heritage of unique safety innovations such as the modern seat belt, which was given away to the whole industry and is now standard in all vehicles worldwide. The company also came up with the side impact protection system, a pedestrian detection system, and numerous child safety products. Volvo's innovations provide a list of significant world firsts in recent years, making lives easier and safer while being kinder to the environment.
While innovations like the unique outside air subwoofer mounted on the XC90s wheel arch saves space, it also sounds better than conventional car subwoofers. Auto braking at intersections is another first by Volvo, introduced in the XC90 in 2014 as part of Volvo's City Safety system. Other significant firsts include run-off road protection and the ability of a Volvo car to quickly locate vacant parking spaces, thanks to Volvo's Sensus Connect technology, an integrated park application. Although this technology is patented, the brand realizes the importance of sharing valuable knowledge and insights gained in safety over the decades with the rest of the world.
The High-Tech Safety Innovations
Volvo has been a leader in safety innovations from the beginning. In 1959 the brand introduced the 3-point seatbelt patent, and from then, it's been nothing but improvements to safety technology. The new lineup for 2021 will come fully equipped with Volvo's most advanced safety and driver assistance technology.
The Swedish carmaker has designed IntelliSafe to make the driver feel safer while behind the wheel. It is the co-pilot that never takes a break from crowded highways to winding city streets and is always on the lookout. IntelliSafe Surround includes BLIS (Blind Spot Information) features with steer assist that alerts the driver if there is another vehicle in their blind spot. It can even bring the car back into its designated lane.
Moreover, the IntelliSafe Surround also includes Cross-Traffic Alert with brake support and Rear Collision Warning, giving a general awareness of other cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and even animals.
Ensures A Sustainable Future
Volvo hopes to have about 50 percent of all its vehicles to be fully electric by 2025, with one million electrified Volvo cars on the road that include mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and pure electric vehicles.
The company also aims to achieve climate-neutral manufacturing operations by 2040, arising from the fact that Volvo has always been cautious about its environmental impact and carbon footprint. Its long-term goal is to create a cleaner and safer planet for all. In this regard, up to 25 percent of plastics used in new Volvo cars from 2025 shall be recycled. The advancement of electric vehicles also constitutes among the most significant changes in the history of automobiles.
For the first time in over a century, cars are running without petrol or diesel engines in the engine bay and have a battery on the floor - changing the car to its core. In keeping with trends, Volvo's forthcoming battery-powered Volvo XC40 SUV will be the brand's first fully electric car, proving that Volvo cars can be made better by taking certain things away.
As far as declarations of intent go, the one Håkan Samuelsson, Volvo CEO, gave two and a half years ago may be the boldest yet. With substantial investments in research and development, Volvo is aggressively eyeing to make their vehicles the safest on roads. The new Volvo S60, revealed only days ago, follows this dogma too. Sure, the technology hidden under the body of the new S60 is shared among all new Volvo cars based on the SPA platform, but it packs much more than just the Swedish automaker's best-in-class safety tech.