Volvo Celebrates 80th Anniversary In New York

This month, Volvo celebrates eight decades of safety consciousness and care for the environment. Volvo core values are very much in evidence with its latest product introduction at the New York Auto Show - the all-new Volvo XC70. Since the first Volvo car - the four-cylinder Open Car known as ÖV4 - rolled out of the Goteborg, Sweden, factory in April of 1927, numerous automotive milestones and industry benchmarks have gathered like moss. The Latin word “Volvo” translates to “I Roll.”

The passion and dreams of the company’s founders, Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson, live on today. Their credo is ingrained in the Volvo DNA: “Cars are driven by people. The guiding principle behind everything we make at Volvo, therefore, is and must remain, safety.” Volvo is globally recognized as the safety leader. Volvo has produced many world-firsts in automotive safety. The three-point seat belt was a Volvo innovation, and today these safety devices are standard in all passenger vehicles. It has been said that there’s a little bit of Volvo in every car.

Volvo’s concern for child safety in automobiles led to the world’s first rear-facing child seat. Another industry first in child safety is being introduced in the all-new XC70. Thanks to an innovative height-adjustable child booster cushion integrated into the rear seat, children of different sizes are provided sufficient viewing out of the windows, while still providing the most effective protection.

Here are just some of other notable Volvo safety developments: seat belt reminders; seat belts for rear seats; child safety locks for rear doors; hazard warning lights; Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS); Side-Impact Protection System (SIPS); Roll Stability Control (RSC); Blind Spot Information System (BLIS); and, DMIC (Door Mounted Inflatable sips bag) for convertibles.

Environmental stewardship has always been a Volvo priority, and there, too, can be found many innovations that have influenced the automotive industry. Volvo introduced the three-way catalytic converter with the Lambda sensor. This environment friendly device removes up to 90 percent of noxious exhaust gases.

Read the complete Press Release