Volvos Product Development practices

Focus on safety

Contents

Introduction Background Note Volvos production system Commitment to safety The volvo safety centre The safety concept car Safety systems of future

Introduction

Background note

Volvo was founded on July 25, 1924, when Gaustaf Larson (Larson), an engineer and Assar Gabrielsson (Gabrielsson), an economist, met over a meal and agreed to build a car more suited for the roads and climatic conditions in Sweden, a cold country in a part of Northern Europe called Scandinavia. The two founders worked earlier for SKF, a famous Swedish bearings manufacturer, where they nurtured the dream of building a car. In 1926, the duo prepared 10 prototypes of a car in a bid to convince SKF into investing in the company. The company not only agreed to invest Swedish Krona (SEK) 200,000 in the venture, but also lent its patented name, AB Volvo. On April 14, 1927, the company rolled out its first car, the OU4, from a factory near Goteberg, Sweden. The day marked the official date of inception of AB Volvo (Volvo)7. In 1928, Volvo started producing trucks. In September 1929, Volvo reported its first ever profit. The positive truck sales made its operations financially viable. In 1934, Volvo launched its first bus, the B-1. The product rapidly gained acceptance as a vehicle fit for rural areas. By the time World War II broke out in 1939, Volvo had established itself as a profitable automobile manufacturer with a broad product range. The company's automobile engines were recognized by industry for their reliability and were used in cars, buses, boats, fire tenders and military tanks...

Issues
Get insights into the production system of a leading automobile manufacturer To understand the importance which an automobile company needs to attach to the safety of its automobiles To get insights into the advanced safety testing facilities of a global automobile company

To get an understanding of the various kinds of safety systems incorporated in the latest and next generation automobiles

Volvos safety philosophy

Our aim is to build cars which

Primarily help the driver to acoid accidents; If an accident is unavoidable, help to protect of the occupants; Take account of the safety of the occupants of other cars and of unprotected road users; Afford enhanced personal security; in other words, make break-in and theft more difficult, and help to provide the occupants with greater protection in threatening situations.