Volvo Cars

History

1927–1999

Volvo was founded upon the concept of safety in 1927, in Gothenburg, Sweden:

Cars are driven by people. The guiding principle behind everything we make at Volvo, therefore, is and must remain, safety.

The company was created as a subsidiary to SKF. Assar Gabrielsson was appointed managing director and Gustav Larson technical manager.

The trademark Volvo (which is Latin for 'I roll') was first registered by SKF on 11 May 1915 with the intention to use it for a special series of ball bearing for the American market but it was never used for this purpose (however in the application for the trademark, it was also designated for the purpose of automobiles). The SKF trademark as it looks today was used instead for all SKF products. Some pre-series of Volvo-bearings stamped with the brand name 'Volvo' were manufactured but never released to the market, and it was not until 1927 that the trademark was used again, now as a trademark and company name for an automobile.

The first Volvo car left the assembly line on 14 April 1927, and was called the Volvo ÖV 4. After this the young company produced closed top and cabriolet vehicles, which were designed to hold strong in the Swedish climate and terrain. In the registration application for the Volvo logotype in 1927, it simply made a copy of the entire radiator for the ÖV 4, viewed from the front. The round logo with the arrow pointing to the right (♂) is the Greek alchemical symbol for iron.

Presented in 1944, the Volvo PV444 passenger car only entered production in 1947. It was the smallest Volvo yet, but became Volvo's most produced car, and spearheaded Volvo's move into the profitable American market. The first Volvos arrived in the United States in 1955, after the hardware wholesaler Leo Hirsh began distributing cars in California. Later, Texas was added, and in 1956, Volvo themselves began importing cars to the US. North America has consistently provided Volvo with its main outlet since.

In 1963, Volvo opened the Volvo Halifax Assembly plant, the first assembly plant in the company's history outside of Sweden, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. In 1964, Volvo opened its Torslanda plant in Sweden, which currently is one of its largest production sites (chiefly large cars and SUVs). Then in 1965, the Ghent, Belgium plant was opened, which is the company's second largest production site. This was also Volvo's first location producing cars within the European Economic Community. In 1989, the Uddevalla plant in Sweden was opened, which was jointly operated by Volvo Car Group and Pininfarina Sverige AB from 2005 to 2013.

Ford era (1999–2010)

Volvo Car Group was part of Ford Motor Company's Premier Automotive Group (PAG), along with Jaguar, Aston Martin and Land Rover. While part of the PAG, the company significantly expanded its range of vehicles. Ford, in turn, attempted with little market success to leverage synergies from Volvo, namely by sharing a re-engineered platform and many safety features from the Volvo S80 with the Ford Five Hundred (et al.).

After Ford sold Jaguar Land Rover to Tata Motors of India in 2008, the company initially decided to keep Volvo Cars despite mounting losses and major economic downturns. Ford decided to restructure plans for Volvo Cars, pushing it further upmarket, alongside the lower end of Mercedes and BMW sedans, wagons, and SUV crossovers. The outcome was the luxurious second generation Volvo S80 and the new small premium crossover Volvo XC60.

When the global economic crisis of 2008 threatened US automakers, Swedish authorities became concerned about the fate of Volvo, should Ford file for bankruptcy. These concerns mounted after repeated mass layoffs at Volvo. In December 2008, Ford announced that it was considering selling Volvo Cars. Initially, a sale price of US$6 billion was reported. Ford said it was also looking into the possibility of spinning off Volvo as an independent company. The Swedish government was asked to look into a possible state ownership of Volvo, or a financial bailout for Volvo Cars and SAAB of GM. Former parent AB Volvo agreed to help Volvo cut costs through partnerships, and suggested taking part in a shared ownership of Volvo Cars, as part of a larger consortium. Other rumored candidates to purchase Volvo Cars included BMW AG of Germany, Investor AB of Sweden, Chinese investors, and Russian investors.

Although it was rumoured that Volkswagen would buy Volvo Cars, and despite initial denials, the company Geely Holding Group was ultimately selected to take over the Swedish automaker. Geely Holding allegedly bid about US$1.5 billion to take over Volvo, with Goldman Sachs investing HK$2.59 billion (US$334 million) in the holding company.

Geely era (2010–present)

Ford Motor Company offered Volvo Cars for sale in December 2008, after suffering losses that year. On 28 October 2009, Ford confirmed that, after considering several offers, the preferred buyer of Volvo Cars was Geely Holding Group, the parent of motor manufacturer Geely Automobile. On 23 December 2009, Ford confirmed the terms of the sale to Geely had been settled. A definitive agreement was signed on 28 March 2010, for US$1.8 billion. The European Commission and China's Ministry of Commerce approved the deal on 6 and 29 July 2010, respectively. The deal closed on 2 August 2010 with Geely paying $1.3 billion cash and a $200 million note. Further payments are expected with a later price "true-up". It is the largest overseas acquisition by a Chinese automaker.

Stefan Jacoby, formerly chief executive of Volkswagen of America, became Volvo Car Group's president and chief executive on 16 August 2010, replacing Stephen Odell, who became chief executive of Ford Europe. Li Shufu became Volvo Cars' chairman of the board. His board members include vice-chairman Hans-Olov Olsson, a former president and chief executive of Volvo Cars, and Håkan Samuelsson, formerly chief executive of MAN.

Under Geely ownership, Volvo has refocused its product lineup. The manufacturer has developed a new line of 3- and 4-cylinder diesel and petrol engines while eliminating larger engines. It has also developed a new vehicle platform, the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), and re-introduced an expanded -90 series of models, including the S90 sedan and Volvo V90 wagon in addition to a redesigned XC90 SUV.

In 2015, Volvo sold more than half a million cars for the first time in its 89-year history.

Volvo reported strong sales from all three core global regions. Sales in Europe rose 10% in 2015 to 269k, representing over 50% of total global volume. Volvo's revival in the US gained momentum, with sales up 24% in 2015, while China was flat amid a challenging sales environment, but sales were up 11% in the fourth quarter.

In July 2017, the automaker announced that beginning in 2019, all of its new models will include an electric motor in their powertrain. Implementation of the announcement could mean Volvo becoming the first manufacturer to end production of internal combustion-only vehicles, with all vehicles hybrid or electric powered. Between 2019 and 2021, Volvo plans to launch three electric cars under the Volvo brand and two more under the Polestar performance brand.

Safety

Volvo cars have long been marketed as safe and the company has stressed its historic reputation for solidity and reliability in marketing campaigns. Volvo uses high-tech safety systems as standard equipment in new vehicles. Prior to strong government safety regulation Volvo had been at the forefront of safety engineering.

In 1944, laminated glass was introduced in the PV model. After Vattenfall engineers presented their pioneering work to Volvo in the 1950s, Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin invented and patented the modern three-point safety belt, which became standard on all Volvo cars in 1959, and then made this design patent open in the interest of safety and made it available to other car manufacturers for free. Additionally, Volvo developed the first rear-facing child seat in 1964 and introduced its own booster seat in 1978.

In 1991, the 960 introduced the first three-point seat belt for the middle of the rear seat and a child safety cushion integrated in the middle armrest. Also in 1991, it introduced the Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) on the 700, 940/960 and 850 models, which channels the force of a side impact away from the doors and into the safety cage.

In 1994, to add to its SIPS, Volvo was the first to introduce side airbags and installed them as standard equipment in all models from 1995. At the start of the 1995 model year, side impact protection airbags were standard on high trim-level Volvo 850s, and optional on other 850s. By the middle of the production year, they were standard on all 850s. In model year 1995, SIPS airbags became standard on all Volvo models.

In 1995, the Volvo 745 was recalled as the front seatbelt mounts could break in a collision.

In 1998, Volvo installed a head-protecting airbag, which was made standard in all new models as well as some existing models. The IC head-protecting airbag was not available on the 1997 C70 since the initial design deployed the airbag from the roof, and the C70, being a convertible, could not accommodate such an airbag. A later version of the C70 featured a head-protecting airbag deploying upwards from the door, avoiding this problem. It has been stated by many testing authorities that side head protecting curtain airbags can reduce the risk of death in a side impact by up to 40% and brain injury by up to 55%, as well as protect occupants during a rollover. In 1998, Volvo introduced its Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), a safety device to prevent injury to front seat users during collisions.

Safety milestones

This list provides dates of when Volvo incorporated these technologies into its cars, and does not necessarily represent Volvo innovations.

Car models

Early years

Volvo ÖV 4, a.k.a. Jakob

Volvo PV650 Series

Volvo TR670 Series

Volvo PV 36 Carioca

Volvo PV51

Volvo PV800 Series (civilian (PV801, PV802, PV810, PV821, PV822 and PV831) and military (TP21/P2104, P2104))

Volvo PV 60

Volvo PV444/544

Volvo Duett (Volvo PV445, P210)

Volvo P1900

Volvo Amazon/Volvo 122

Volvo P1800

Volvo 66

Volvo C202

Volvo C3-series (C303, C304 and C306)

Tri-digit nomenclature

Starting with the 140 series in 1966, Volvo used a tri-digit system for its cars. The first number was the series, the second number the number of cylinders and the third number the number of doors; so a 164 was a 1-series with a six-cylinder engine and four doors. However, there were exceptions to this rule – the 780 for example, came with turbocharged I4 and naturally aspirated V6 petrol engines and I6 diesel engines, but never an eight-cylinder, as the "eight" would suggest. Similarly, the 760 often was equipped with a turbocharged I4 engine, and the Volvo 360 only had four cylinders. Some 240GLT had a V6 engine. The company dropped the meaning of the final digit for later cars like the 740, but the digit continued to identify cars underhood on the identification plate.

Volvo 140 (Volvo 142, Volvo 144, Volvo 145)

Volvo 164

Volvo 240 (Volvo 242, 244, 245)

Volvo 260 (Volvo 262C, 264, 265)

Volvo 340 (Volvo 343, 345)

Volvo 360

Volvo 440/460

Volvo 480

Volvo 740

Volvo 760

Volvo 780

Volvo 850

Volvo 940

Volvo 960

Post tri-digit models

Released in 1995

Volvo S40

Volvo V40

Released in 1996

Volvo S70 replaced the 850 saloon

Volvo V70 replaced the 850 estate

Volvo S90 replaced the 960 saloon

Volvo V90 replaced the 960 estate

Released in 1997

Volvo C70 coupé

Volvo V70 XC

Released in 1998

Volvo C70 convertible

Volvo S80 replaced the Volvo S90

Released in 2000

Volvo S60 replaced the Volvo S70

Volvo V70 II

Volvo V70 XC II/XC70

Released in 2002

Volvo XC90

Released in 2004

Volvo S40 II replaced the Volvo S40

Volvo V50 replaced the Volvo V40

Released in 2006

Volvo C30

Volvo C70 II

Current models

Today, the company uses a system of letters denoting body style followed by the series number. "S" stands for "sedan", "C" stands for "coupé" or "convertible" (including three-door hatchback AKA "shooting brake") and "V" stands for "versatile" (5-door hatchback and station wagon). A V50 is an estate (also under "V") that is smaller than the V70. "XC" stands for "cross country", which was originally added to a more rugged version of the V70 model (the V70XC), and indicates all wheel drive paired with a raised suspension to give the model an SUV look. Volvo would later change the name to the XC70, keeping its car naming consistent with the XC90.

Originally, Volvo had planned to use a different naming scheme. S and C were to be the same as they are now, but "F", standing for "flexibility", was to be used on station wagons. When Volvo introduced the first generation S40 and V40 in 1995, they were announced as the S4 and F4. However, Audi complained that it had inherent rights to the S4 name, since it names its sporty vehicles "S", and the yet to be introduced sport version of the Audi A4 would have the S4 name. Volvo agreed to add a second digit, so the vehicles became the S40 and F40. However, that led to another complaint from Ferrari, who had the Ferrari F40 sports car. This led to Volvo switching the "F" to "V", for versatile.

Medium cars (SEA platform)

Volvo EX30 2023–present (M/Y 2024–present)

Medium cars (CMA platform)

Volvo XC40 2017–present (M/Y 2019–present)

Volvo EC40 2021–present (M/Y 2022–present)

Large cars (SPA platform)

Volvo XC90 II 2014–present (M/Y 2015–present)

Volvo S90 II 2016–present (M/Y 2017–present)

Volvo XC60 II 2017–present (M/Y 2018–present)

Volvo V60 II 2018–present (M/Y 2019–present)

Concept cars

Volvo Venus Bilo (1933)

Volvo Philip (1952)

Volvo Margarete Rose (1953)

Volvo Elisabeth I (1953)

Volvo GTZ (1969)

Volvo GTZ 3000 (1970)

Volvo VESC (1972)

Volvo 1800 ESC (1972)

Volvo EC (1977)

Volvo City Taxi (1977)

Volvo Tundra (1979)

Volvo VCC – Volvo Concept Car (1980)

Volvo LCP2000 (1983)

Volvo ECC – Environment Concept Car (1992)

Volvo ACC – Adventure Concept Car (1997)

Volvo SCC – Safety Concept Car (2001)

Volvo PCC – Performance Concept Car (2001)

Volvo PCC2 (2002)

Volvo ACC2 (2002)

Volvo VCC – Versatility Concept Car (2003)

Volvo YCC – Your Concept Car (2004)

Volvo T6 (2005)

Volvo 3CC (2005)

Volvo C30 Design Concept (2006)

Alternative propulsion

In 2019, Volvo announced that it plans to produce only fully electrified cars from the year 2040 onwards. From 2040, it plans to no longer produce internal combustion engine powered vehicles. In March 2021, Volvo doubled down on these plans and committed to being an electric-only car maker by 2030.

Flexible-fuel vehicles

In 2005, Volvo introduced to the Swedish market the company's first E85 flexifuel models. Volvo introduced its S40 and V50 with flexible-fuel engines, joined in late 2006 by the then new C30. All Volvo models were initially restricted to the Swedish market, until 2007, when these three models were launched in eight new European markets. In 2008, Volvo launched the V70 with a 2.5-litre turbocharged flexifuel engine.

Plug-in hybrids

The Volvo ReCharge is a plug-in hybrid concept car with an all-electric range (AER) of 60 miles (97 km). It was officially unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show.

On 1 June 2009, Volvo announced the launching of series production diesel-electric plug-in hybrids by 2012. The company plans to sell a series hybrid with the goal of achieving emissions of less than 50 grams of CO2 per kilometer. As part of a joint venture with Vattenfall, a Swedish energy company, Volvo converted two Volvo V70s to plug-in hybrid demonstration vehicles that have been in field testing in Göteborg, Sweden since December 2009. Vattenfall offered customers participating in this trial a supply of renewable electricity generated from wind power or hydropower. Among other challenges, the demonstration tests the car's all-electric range at low temperatures, which has been a disadvantage of plug-in vehicles.

Electric car

The Volvo C30 DRIVe Electric concept car was exhibited at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and Volvo announced that field testing will begin in 2011, in the US, Europe, and China. The C30 DRIVe electric car has a lithium-ion battery, a top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph), and an all-electric range of up to 150 kilometres (93 mi). Field testing began in 2010 with 10 units in Göteborg, Sweden.

Gas-turbine Hybrid

The Volvo ECC (Environmental Concept Car) was exhibited at the 1992 Paris Motor Show. The vehicles range on batteries alone was 90 miles (140 km), and when combined with a full tank of fuel for the turbine, about 415 miles (668 km).

Drive-E engines

Starting in the 2015 model year (Volvo S60, V60, and XC60), Volvo introduced a line of forced-induction four-cylinder engines, dubbed "Drive-E", to increase the efficiency of its models without sacrificing performance. These engines also debuted throughout the lineup that year, and also appeared in the second-generation Volvo XC90. Hybridized versions of these engines would, in theory, have enough power to match eight-cylinder engines.

Production locations

Sweden

Torslanda (Volvo Cars Torslanda – Torslandaverken), 1964–present

Volvo V60, Volvo XC60, Volvo V90, Volvo XC90

Olofström (body components)

Skövde (engines)

Floby (engine components, brake discs)

Belgium

Ghent (Volvo Car Gent), 1965–present

Volvo XC40, Volvo C40, Volvo S60, Volvo V60, Volvo EX30

China

Chengdu (Zhongjia Automobile Manufacturing), 2013–present

Volvo S60L, Volvo XC60, Volvo EX30, Volvo EX90

Daqing (Daqing Volvo Car Manufacturing), 2014–present

Volvo S90, Volvo S90L

Luqiao (Zhejiang Geely Manufacturing), 2016–present

Volvo XC40

Zhangjiakou (engines)

Malaysia

Shah Alam (Volvo Car Manufacturing Malaysia), 1967–present

Volvo S60, Volvo S90, Volvo V60, Volvo EX30, Volvo XC40, Volvo XC60, Volvo XC90

India

Other facilities

Sweden

Gothenburg (Volvo Cars Headquarters, R&D and Safety Center)

Hedared (Hällered Proving Ground)

Engine types

Volvo uses in-line, or straight engines in its production vehicles. Volvo is also known for the application of the in-line 5-cylinder engine to its vehicle line up since its introduction in 1991 in the Volvo 850.

Side valve six – fitted into the PV651/2, TR671/4, PV653/4, TR676/9, PV658/9, PV36, PV51/2, PV53/6, PV801/2, PV821/2, PV831/2 and PV60 from 1929 to 1958

B4B and B14A – fitted into the Volvo PV and Volvo Duett from 1947 to 1956

B16 (A and B) – fitted into the PV, Duett and Volvo Amazon from 1957 to 1960

B18 and B20 – 1.8 L/2.0 L OHV 8v fitted into all Volvo models from 1961 to 1974 except 164 (and 1975 US spec 240 models).

B19, B21, and B23 – fitted from 1975

B200 and B230 – 2.0 L and 2.3 L, respectively, SOHC 8v fitted to 240, 360, 700, 940 series cars from 1985

B204 and B234 – 2.0 L and 2.3 L DOHC 16 valve engines

B27/B28 and B280 – 2.7 and 2.8 L SOHC 12v developed together with Renault and Peugeot

B30 – fitted to all 164 models

Transmissions

Volvo automatic transmissions in the past were made by the ZF Friedrichshafen company, but now the transmissions are co-developed with Aisin of Japan. Geartronic is Volvo Cars' name for its manumatic transmission.

Automatic transmissions

Borg-Warner 35 transmission

Borg-Warner 55 transmission

Volvo AW70 series transmissions

Volvo AW70 transmission

Volvo AW71 transmission

Volvo AW72 transmission

AW50-42 (4-speed automatic, FWD/AWD)

AW55-50/51 (5-speed automatic, FWD/AWD)

GM4T65EV/GT (4-speed GM automatic, FWD/AWD)

AWTF-80 SC (6-speed automatic, FWD/AWD)

ZF 4HP22 transmission (4-speed automatic transmission, 4x4)

Manual transmissions

Volvo M30 transmission

Volvo M40 transmission

Volvo M400 & M410 transmission

Volvo M41 transmission

Volvo M45 transmission

Volvo M46 transmission

Volvo M47 transmission

Volvo M50 transmission

Volvo M51 transmission

Volvo M56 transmission

Volvo M58 transmission

Volvo M59 transmission

Volvo M65 transmission

Volvo M66 transmission

Volvo M90 transmission

IB5

MTX-75

MMT6

MPS6 (6-speed dual clutch Powershift, FWD)

Motorsport

In 1959, Volvo set up its own motorsport department. This led to Volvo enjoying worldwide success in the motorsport arena throughout the early 1960s. In 1961, Gran Premio de Argentina Gunnar Andersson was appointed Volvo's competition department manager, signing a number of drivers, including Carl-Magnus Skogh, Tom Trana and Ewy Rosqvist, though he himself still continued to compete in rallies. In 1964, Volvo made heavy investments in the Safari Rally, entering four Volvo PV544s in the 1964 competition. A PV544, borrowed from Volvo and then modified and driven by Joginder and Jaswant Singh won the Safari Rally in 1965.

Volvo entered the European Touring Car Championship with the Volvo 240 Turbo in the 1980s. In the 1984 European Touring Car Championship, the Swedish team Sportpromotion won the EG Trophy at Zolder circuit, followed by placing second in the Mugello. In 1985, Volvo signed Swiss engine guru Ruedi Eggenberger to run its works team through Eggenberger Motorsport. Team drivers Gianfranco Brancatelli and Thomas Lindström led the 240T to victory in the 1985 ETCC.

Also in 1985, New Zealander Mark Petch had purchased a 240T from the Magnum team in Sweden (and claimed to run the only privateer Volvo 240T outside of Europe), and drivers Robbie Francevic and Michel Delcourt had also won the Wellington 500 street race in New Zealand in January. Francevic went on to finish 5th in the 1985 Australian Touring Car Championship, taking wins at Symmons Plains and Oran Park. The factory-supported Petch team also participated in the 1985 Bathurst 1000. Thomas Lindström later joined Francevic to win the 1986 Wellington 500. The Petch team become the Volvo Dealer Team in 1986, and expanded to two cars, with the other being for John Bowe, who had driven the Volvo with Francevic at the 1985 Bathurst 1000.

Volvo contracted Belgian based team RAS Sport to be its works team in the ETCC in 1986, following Eggenberger moving to race Ford Sierra's. This team included defending champion Lindström, joined by ex-Formula One and Grand Prix motorcycle racer Johnny Cecotto, as well as Ulf Granberg and Anders Olofsson. The team took wins at wins at Hockenheim, Anderstorp, Brno, Österreichring and Zolder, though the wins at Anderstorp and the Österreichring were disqualified due to the use of illegal fuel.

The 240T also entered the Guia Race, part of the Macau Grand Prix in 1985, 1986 and 1987, winning in both 1985 and 1986.

Marketing

The name Volvo is Latin for "I roll".

Logo

The Volvo symbol is an ancient chemistry sign for iron. The iron sign is used to symbolize the strength of iron used in the car as Sweden is known for its quality iron. The diagonal line (a strip of metal) across the grille came about to hold the actual symbol, a circle with an arrow, in front of the radiator.

Sponsorship

Volvo has, since the 1950s, had special international sales programs for customers assigned abroad, for example Diplomat Sales, Military Sales and Expat Sales.

The Volvo trademark is now jointly owned (50/50) by Volvo Group and Volvo Car Group. One of the main promotional activities for the brand is the sailing Race Volvo Ocean Race, formerly known as the Whitbread Around the World Race. There is also a Volvo Baltic Race and Volvo Pacific Race, and Volvo likes to encourage its image by sponsoring golf tournaments all over the world including major championship events called the Volvo Masters and Volvo China Open.

Volvo sponsored the Volvo Ocean Race, the world's leading round-the-world yacht race for the first time in 2001–02. The next edition was to take place between 2011 and 2012. Volvo has also had a long-standing commitment to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) and is involved in the Volvo/ISAF World Youth Sailing Championships since 1997.

In 2011, Volvo Cars is the main sponsor of the winter sports and music festival Snowbombing in Austria.

In 2012, Volvo signed NBA star Jeremy Lin to an endorsement agreement for two years to participate in Volvo's corporate and marketing activities as a "brand ambassador" for Volvo Car Corp.

In 2015, Volvo signed a deal with Chennaiyin FC, a football franchise team of the Indian Super League as a side shirt sponsor.

Video games

In May 2009, Volvo – The Game was released. It was developed by Simbin Studios (now Sector3 Studios).

Volvo trademark lawsuit

In 1990, Volvo Cars filed a lawsuit against Hong Kong-based Club Volvo night club for infringement in Hong Kong High Court. The lawsuit ended with settlement where the night club paid 1 dollar to Volvo Cars. Since then, Club Volvo had been renamed to Club Borubo (the Japanese pronunciation of "Volvo"), and then Club Bboss (reference to Big Boss).