1944 Safety cage

1944 Laminated windscreen    ------->

1954 Defroster vents for windscreen

1956 Windscreen washers

1957 Anchor points for 2–point safety belts front

1958 Anchor points for 2–point safety belts rear

1959 Three-point seat belts in the front (standard)

1960 Padded instrument panel

1964 Prototype of the first rear-facing child seat is tested in a Volvo

1966 Twin-circuit triangular (three-wheel) backup braking system

1966 Crumple zones

1966 Safety door–locks

1967 Seat belts in the rear

1968 Head restraints front

1969 Three-point inertia-reel seat belts in the front

1970 Volvo Cars' Traffic Accident Research Team established                          

1971 Reminder safety belt

1972 Three-point seat belts in the rear

1972 Rear-facing child seat and child-proof door locks

1972 Volvo Experimental Safety Car (VESC)    ------->

1973 Energy-absorbing steering column

1974 Energy-absorbing bumpers

1974 Gas tank relocated for enhanced safety 

1974 Bulb integrity sensor

1975 Braking system with stepped bore master cylinder

1978 Child booster cushion for children                              

1982 Under-run protection

1982 Door mirrors of wide-angle type

1984 ABS, anti-locking brakes

1986 Brake lights at eye level

1986 Three-point seat belt in the middle of the rear seat

1987 Seat belt pre-tensioner

1987 Driver’s airbag

1990 Integrated booster cushion for children

1991 SIPS, side impact collision protection

1991 Automatic height adjustment of front seat belts

1992 Reinforced rear seats in estate models

1993 Three-point inertia-reel seat belt in all the seats

1994 SIPS, side-impact airbags

1995 Integrated child safety cushion outer rear seats

1997 ROPS, Roll-Over Protection System convertible (C70)

1998 WHIPS, protection against whiplash injuries

1998 IC, inflatable curtain,

1998 DSTC, Dynamic Stability and Traction Control

2000 Volvo Cars Safety Centre inaugurated in Göteborg

2000 ISOFIX attachments for child seats     

2000 Two-stage airbag                                                                         

2000 Volvo On Call safety system

2000 Volvo Cars Safety Centre new crash laboratory inaugurated

2001 Volvo Safety Concept Car (SCC)   

2002 RSC, Roll Stability Control

2002 ROPS, Roll-Over Protection System SUV (XC90)

2002 Lower cross-member at the front – protection system for oncoming cars

2002 Development of virtual “pregnant” crash-test dummy    ------->

2003 IDIS, intelligent system for driver information (in S40 and V50)

2003 Patented new structure at the front reduces collision forces

2003 New Front Structure called Volvo Intelligent Vehicle Architecture (VIVA, S40, V50)

2003 Rear seat belt reminders (in S40 and V50)

2003 Bangkok’s Traffic Accident Research Centre (TARC) is inaugurated

2004 BLIS, system for information about the blind spot offset rear (in S40 and V50)

2004 DMIC, door-mounted side airbag for convertibles    

2005 Volvo’s co-driver-system

2005 Multi Lock, combined alcolock and lock for the seat belt and key for speed restriction (research project)

2006 ACC, Adaptive Cruise Control

2006 Personal Car Communicator (PCC) in S80

2006 Collision warning with brake support (in S80)

2006 Active Bi-Xenon headlamps

2007 Integrated two-stage child booster cushion

2007 PPB – Power Park Brake (S80)

2007 CWAB, Collision Warning with Auto Brake

2007 Driver Alert Control (V70, XC70)

2007 Lane Departure Warning

2007 Alcoguard (currently not available in the U.S.)

2008 Pre-Prepared Restraints

2008 City Safety, low speed collision avoidance. Automatically stop car at speeds below 19 mph (31 km/h) if obstruction is detected in front of car (XC60)------->

2010 Pedestrian Detection with auto brake (New S60)

2011 Plug-in Diesel Hybrid (V60)

2012 Pedestrian airbag (V40)

2012 Knee airbag, for the driver (V40)

2012 Upgraded City Safety, now working up to 31 mph (S80, V70, XC70, XC60, S60, V60, new V40)

2012 Lane Keeping Aid (V40)

2012 Road Sign Information (S80, V70, XC70, XC60, S60, V60, V40)

2012 Enhanced Blind Spot Information System (V40)

2012 Cross Traffic Alert (V40)

2013 i-Art. Drive-E diesels feature feedback from each fuel injector.

2013 Cyclist Detection with Auto Brake (S80, V70, XC70, XC60, S60, V60, V40)

2014 Inflatable Child Seat. Rearward-facing child seat concept can be tucked away in a small bag when not in use.  

2014 Food to car. Volvo demonstrates deliveries of food direct to the car. 

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducted its annual crashworthiness testing to determine its Top Safety Picks. For a vehicle to earn a coveted Top Safety Pick, it must earn good ratings in each of the four Institute tests, and offer electronic stability control.
Once again Volvo has proven itself to be a leader in occupant protection with an impressive four IIHS Top Safety Picks. Congratulations to the Volvo S80, C30, XC60 and XC90.

View the entire report.