Ballroom legend Fred Astaire. Hammy Al Jolson. Jazzy Annette Hanshaw. Boop-boop-a-dooping Hellen Kane. These voices might have peppered the radio the year Volvo came to be.
Well, maybe not in Sweden. We're not sure what was popular in Sweden in the 20's.
In 1924, Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson got together to discuss their dreams of starting a Swedish car company.
The need was there-- imported cars just couldn't hold up to the rough Swedish winters. Sweden was undergoing a booming industrial renaissance, and there was plenty of factory space, and steel available. The Swedish swinging 20's were the perfect time and place to start a motor company.
Right from the beginning, Volvo made safety a priority. In 1959, they debuted the world's first 3-point seatbelt. In 1964, they tested the first rear-facing child safety seat. In 1976, they created the first child booster cushion and the Volvo 240 was named as the benchmark of safety standards for all new cars by the U.S. government.
Volvo keeps pushing forward in safety innovation. Their next goal is for 2020, when no one will be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo. Ready to keep rolling into the future? Visit McLaughlin Volvo for a test drive today.
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