An independent anniversary tribute
From one open tourer in Gothenburg to a global idea of safety, usefulness and Scandinavian restraint. One hundred years of engineering with people at the centre.
Explore the story01 / The story
On 14 April 1927, the first series-produced Volvo drove through the gates of the Lundby factory in Gothenburg. The four-cylinder ÖV4, nicknamed Jakob, began a story shaped by quality, practicality and the belief that vehicles should serve people.
05 / 14 A belt for everyone
1959
Engineer Nils Bohlin introduces the modern three-point safety belt in series-production Volvo cars. Volvo waives its patent rights so the design can benefit drivers everywhere.
08 / 14 The 240 series
1974
Volvo presents the 240 and 260 families in August. Influenced by the VESC safety concept, the 240 becomes a defining Volvo and remains in production for nearly two decades.
10 / 14 Four innovations
1991
The Volvo 850 debuts with a transverse five-cylinder engine, Side Impact Protection System, self-adjusting front belt reels and Delta-link rear suspension. It also brings front-wheel drive to Volvo’s larger cars.
02 / The legacy today
Today the Volvo name spans Volvo Cars and Volvo Group, two separate companies linked by a shared heritage and brand. From passenger cars to trucks, buses and construction equipment, the century-old idea continues to evolve around safety, usefulness and lower-impact mobility.
1927 — 2027
The forms have changed—from open tourer to estate, SUV and electric flagship—but the strongest Volvo idea remains simple: technology matters most when it improves human life.
Explore Volvo heritage
