Volvo History

The first Volvo vehicle was produced in 1927, and from that time on, Volvo has been seen as one of the safest automakers out there. The first owners of Volvo, put an emphasis on the safety of their vehicles, and this emphasis is still considered one of the most important aspects of Volvo. The first car was nicknamed the 'Jakob' and along with it, another model, the PV651 was introduced. Both of which consumers accepted with open arms. By 1931, Volvo had produced around 10,000 of these vehicles for the public.

After the war, Volvo introduced the PV444, which was a very successful car. So successful that this car started the automaker into the United States automaker. During this time, Volvo built on their goal to safety and was the first to introduce the safety belt in their vehicles.

The 1960s was also a rewarding time for the automaker, as they introduced a new sports car, the P1800. This car was made popular by the hit television series, starring Roger Moore, earning the car celebrity status, which helped to propel the Volvo name even further into the mainstream auto market. During this decade, Volvo also made significant strides in the safety world. They began to offer cushioned dashboards in the event of an accident these cushioned dashboards would limit the severity of an injury. They also introduced energy-resistant crumpling zones for the protection of the driver and any passengers.

The 1970s was the time in which Volvo really outdid itself in regard to safety. They were the only automaker offering such safety precautions like child proof locks, rear-facing child seats and collapsible steering columns. Which raised their popularity with those who had a family. And it also paved the way for future automakers to use these safety features in the models that they were developing, and these safety features are still used in today's vehicles.

During the 1980's, the Volvo took the time to prove that they were not only notable for their safety features. They gave to the public their first turbo charged vehicle that was designed for performance, showing that safety was not their only niche. The cars became very popular with many people throughout the United States, especially the well off.

During the 1990's, the company released many new vehicles, all showing that safety was a concern, but performance was also a key in the products that they made. For example, the models like the S40 which gave the image a more sleek look because the cars no longer utilized the boxy frame that so many had come to know as Volvo. During 1998, Ford acquired the company and for a brief period of time, remained with Ford. However, when Ford suffered from financial loses, they sold the company to the Chinese automaker Greely in 2010. Today, it is not known what Greely plans to do with the company, but given the reputation that Volvo has all over the world, chances are the automaker will stay in business.