Volvo’s Rich History

Sharing The History of Volvo with the Lynchburg, VA, Community

Volvo was created out of the need for strong and safe vehicles to traverse Swedish roads. So, on April 14, 1927, the first Volvo car was driven through the factory doors in Gothenburg, Sweden. It was an open tourer with a four-cylinder engine called the ÖV4.

Then, in 1944, “The little Volvo,” or PV 444, came along and took Volvo to the international level. From there, the company continued to grow and market its vehicles as practical, versatile machines.

Volvo hit the beaches of California for the first time in 1955 when the first PV 444 was unloaded in Long Beach. This opened up the US market in a big way and made Volvo the second-largest imported brand at the time.

Volvo’s Unique Innovations

Did you know that Volvo was the creator of the three-point safety belt? Engineer Nils Bohlin introduced it to the PV 544 in 1959 and waived the patent rights so everyone could benefit from this advancement in automobile safety.

Soon enough, Volvo became a benchmark of safety. The US Government made the Volvo 240 model the official safety standard benchmark for all new cars during crash testing. A few of the other innovations Volvo introduced to the automotive world are the transverse five-cylinder engine, self-adjusting belt reels, front-wheel drive, Side Impact Protection Systems, and Delta-link rear suspension.

From the genesis of Volvo, safety has been the entire drive. Volvo is proud that they have always put people first in their designs.

The New Volvo Generation

Fast forward to the new millennia– Volvo creates their first SUV model, the XC90, and opens their first manufacturing plant outside of Europe in China. By 2018, the first US manufacturing plant opened in Charleston, South Carolina, making Volvo a true global player in manufacturing in Europe, Asia, and North America.

By 2019, Volvo releases their first fully electric SUV: The Volvo XC40 Recharge P8. With these new innovations and consistent reliability, Volvo is focusing on reducing its environmental impact in the coming years.

Visit Volvo Cars of Lynchburg

Experience the quality and innovation of the Volvo legacy at Volvo Cars of Lynchburg. We have all of your favorite Volvo models and provide expert auto services to the community of Lynchburg, VA, and beyond. We look forward to sharing the spirit of Volvo with you!