In a proud moment for Volvo Cars, TIME magazine has named the driver-understanding system in the new Volvo EX90 SUV as one of its “Best Inventions of 2024.” This acknowledgment highlights the exceptional dedication to safety that has been synonymous with the Volvo name for decades. Volvo’s pioneering system, designed to protect drivers and their surroundings by sensing distraction or fatigue, demonstrates how modern technology can create safer, more mindful journeys.
A New Standard for Safety in the EX90
The EX90’s driver-understanding system is a testament to Volvo’s commitment to reducing road incidents. At the heart of this advanced system is real-time sensing technology that assesses the driver’s level of alertness, detecting signs of distraction, drowsiness, or impairment. When these are sensed, the car intervenes to support the driver, helping prevent potentially dangerous situations before they escalate. Should a driver become unresponsive, the EX90 even has the capacity to safely bring itself to a stop, activating hazard lights to alert surrounding vehicles.
The system’s layered approach begins with gentle prompts—a soft alert designed to refocus attention on the road. If needed, these warnings become more persistent, ensuring the driver has ample opportunity to regain full awareness. In extreme cases, such as a driver falling asleep, the system will safely bring the car to a stop, illustrating Volvo’s unique ability to combine safety innovation with a deep understanding of human behavior.
Volvo’s Legacy of Innovation
Volvo’s focus on real-world research and safety innovation stretches back more than half a century. Notable among these achievements is the introduction of the modern three-point safety belt in 1959, a feature that is estimated to have saved more than one million lives globally. By making this design freely available, Volvo paved the way for safer automotive design worldwide. This culture of safety-first engineering is evident in every detail of the EX90, which has been dubbed “the safest Volvo car we have ever made.”
With the EX90, Volvo’s safety ambitions go beyond traditional measures. The driver-understanding system represents an essential advancement toward the brand’s ultimate vision: zero collisions. By understanding driver behavior in real time, the EX90 addresses the gap that exists between safety features and human fallibility, providing an extra layer of vigilance that adapts to individual needs.
TIME names Volvo EX90 driver-understanding system one of 2024’s Best Inventions
A Symbol of the Future: The All-Electric EX90
The EX90 is not only Volvo’s flagship electric SUV but also a symbol of the automaker’s journey towards sustainable and intelligent mobility. By harnessing over-the-air updates, the EX90’s driver-understanding system will continue to improve, learning from real-time data to enhance its responses and safeguard its occupants even more effectively.
As the EX90 evolves, it brings Volvo closer to its ambitious goal of zero-collision travel, setting a new precedent in the automotive industry.
Recognition by TIME Magazine
The recognition from TIME places the EX90’s driver-understanding system in an elite category of innovations in fields spanning health care, green energy, and AI. TIME’s rigorous selection criteria evaluated nominees based on their originality, impact, efficacy, and ambition—qualities that Volvo’s system exemplifies. For the automotive industry, this accolade underscores the importance of technology that protects drivers while promoting safer roads for all.
In his statement regarding the award, Jim Rowan, Volvo Cars’ Chief Executive, expressed his gratitude, saying, “The EX90 is designed to be the safest Volvo car we have ever made. On behalf of everyone at Volvo Cars, I am very pleased to see TIME recognise us as a leader in automotive safety.”
The Road Ahead
As Volvo accelerates towards an era defined by electric mobility and autonomous capabilities, safety remains the brand’s unshakeable foundation. The Volvo EX90 and its driver-understanding system embody a sophisticated blend of technology, experience, and care for human life—a blend that will continue to define Volvo’s path as they lead the charge toward a safer, smarter automotive future.
