Volvo Car UK is marking 70 years of pioneering seatbelt technology with the launch of the all-new EX60, featuring a world-first multi-adaptive seatbelt. The milestone celebrates Volvo’s long-standing commitment to automotive safety, tracing back to 1956 when the company first introduced the seatbelt to the European market with its Amazon prototype.
Volvo was the first automaker to fit the three-point safety belt as standard, a revolutionary design created by engineer Nils Bohlin. Comprising a lap belt and a diagonal strap anchored at a low attachment point beside the seat, the system set the template for the modern seatbelt. Volvo’s decision to make the patent freely available accelerated global adoption and helped save millions of lives worldwide.
From the 1959 Swedish market adoption to its worldwide influence, Volvo seatbelts have remained a core feature of the brand’s safety ethos. Today, the new EX60 elevates this legacy with the multi-adaptive safety belt, which adjusts in real-time to individual occupants and crash conditions. Advanced sensors collect data on height, weight, seating position, and crash type, allowing the system to tailor protection. A larger occupant in a severe collision receives a higher belt load to reduce the risk of head injury, while a smaller occupant in a milder impact is given a lower load to protect ribs. Over-the-air software updates allow the EX60 to continuously refine its understanding of occupant safety and improve performance over time.
Nicole Melillo Shaw, Managing Director of Volvo Car UK, said: “Volvo has always been at the forefront of safety evolution and innovation, and we’re pleased that we can continue to make new developments on such vital features like the seatbelt. The latest multi-adaptive seatbelt in the new EX60 is a testament to our pioneering technology and approach to safety that is continued today.”
This milestone comes as Volvo prepares to celebrate its centenary in the UK in 2027, underscoring the brand’s century-long dedication to innovation, safety, and advancing automotive technology.
