It’s time to celebrate Volvo’s 70 years in the USA, which began with the debut of the PV444, at the Swedish pavilion of the California State Fair and Exposition in Sacramento. “The Family Sports Car from Sweden” showed off whitewall tires and sealed-beam headlamps. Sales were initially slow, primarily to drivers in Southern California and Texas, but Volvo’s presence grew until it became the second-largest import brand in California by 1956.
1960s and 1970s
In the 1960s and 70s, the brand became known for its safety, pioneering innovations such as three-point seat belts, rear-facing child seats, safety door locks, and crumple zones for the front and rear. Popular offerings of the time included the Volvo 140 series, including the 142 two-door coupe, 144 four-door sedan, and 145 station wagon.
In the 1970s, the midsize luxury Volvo 240 appeared with the iconic boxy exterior in 2-door, 4-door, and estate versions. The look continued in the 1980s and 1990s with the 700 executive series, midsize luxury 240 series, compact 5-cylinder 850, and 900 series, which replaced the 700 series.
Safety
Since 1990, the automaker has either invented or contributed to several safety systems commonly used today.
1990: The integrated booster cushion protected the youngest riders.
1991: The Side Impact Protection System incorporated energy-absorbing materials, a cross-member in the floor, and reinforced seats to maximize impact strength. Side impact airbags also appeared.
1998: The Whiplash Protection System designed seats and head restraints that delivered uniform support and absorbed energy to minimize whiplash injuries during rear-end collisions.
2003: The Blind Spot Information System warned of vehicles entering your blind zone.
2010: When pedestrian detection discovered a person in the vehicle’s path, brakes were applied automatically.
2018: Oncoming Mitigation detected a vehicle heading toward you from another lane, it reduced your car’s speed to mitigate the collision force.
Going Electric
Although Volvo had been experimenting with electric cars since 1976, its first mass-produced fully electric vehicle did not appear until May 2020 in the form of the XC40 Recharge. This model could travel around 250 miles on a single charge with a DC fast-charging time of 40 minutes to reach 80 percent, thanks to a 78 kWh battery. Today, the XC40 Recharge has morphed into the all-electric EX90 flagship SUV, which is built in the USA at Ridgeville, SC. It has a range of up to 310 miles and 0-60 acceleration of 4.7 seconds, pushed by up to 510 horsepower.
“This car is more than just another SUV,” said Anders Gustaffson, ex-President and CEO of Volvo Cars USA. “It represents the start of a new era for Volvo Cars. Building on our legacy of safety, the Volvo EX90 sets the standard for our electric and sustainable future.”