Volvo introduces world-first multi-adaptive safety belt
VOLVO CARS has unveiled a groundbreaking advancement in occupant protection technology with the debut of its multi-adaptive safety belt, set to launch in the fully electric Volvo EX60 in 2026. This new safety system is designed to provide tailored protection for vehicle occupants by using real-time data from the car's sophisticated sensor array, marking a major evolution of the original three-point safety belt first introduced by Volvo in 1959.
Developed to address the diversity of human body types and the unpredictability of real-world collisions, the multi-adaptive safety belt responds dynamically to both individual occupant characteristics and the specifics of each crash scenario. Drawing input from both internal and external sensors, the system calibrates belt tension to suit variables such as a person's height, weight, body shape, and seating posture, as well as the angle and severity of a collision.
The innovation lies in the belt's expanded use of load-limiting profiles, increasing the options from three to eleven. This significant leap enables the restraint system to apply a more precise level of force during an accident, balancing the need for secure restraint against the risk of injury from the belt itself. For example, in a serious collision involving a larger occupant, the system may apply a higher load threshold to reduce the chance of head trauma. Conversely, a smaller individual in a lower-impact crash would benefit from a lower load setting to reduce the likelihood of rib fractures.
Volvo's ability to make such advancements is rooted in its extensive archive of safety data, comprising over 80,000 real-world accident cases and more than five decades of research. This empirical foundation underpins the Volvo Cars Safety Standard, a benchmark that often exceeds formal regulatory testing criteria.
As part of its broader safety ecosystem, the new belt works in conjunction with existing in-car systems, including airbags, occupant monitoring, and driver assistance features. The integration ensures a cohesive response to crash events, providing layered protection and reducing the risk of secondary injuries.
What further sets this system apart is its capacity for continuous improvement. Through over-the-air software updates, the safety belt's algorithms will evolve, learning from new data to refine their responses to emerging crash scenarios and more accurately assess the needs of different occupants.
Volvo's Head of Safety Centre, Åsa Haglund, highlighted the significance of the innovation, describing it as a pivotal step in the company's mission to enhance traffic safety. She noted that by harnessing real-time data, the system represents a substantial upgrade to the original three-point safety belt—a device already credited with saving over a million lives.
The development and testing of the multi-adaptive safety belt have taken place at the Volvo Cars Safety Centre crash laboratory in Gothenburg, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. This advanced testing facility allows engineers to simulate a wide array of crash scenarios, exceeding international standards in order to validate real-world safety effectiveness.
Volvo's continued emphasis on occupant diversity and its use of comprehensive data ensures that its vehicles offer protection that reflects the varied realities of everyday traffic. The introduction of the multi-adaptive safety belt is another example of the company's leadership in automotive safety and its commitment to safeguarding all passengers, not just meeting regulations, but anticipating the future of road safety.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Malay Mail
Volvo's fully electric ES90 sedan coming to Malaysia in early 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 — After launching a total of four fully electric SUVs, Volvo Cars Malaysia will introduce its ES90 sedan in early 2026. The Volvo ES90 is the brand's first fully electric sedan and it's also their first passenger EV to utilise an 800V architecture. As shared by Volvo Cars' Managing Director for Malaysia and Thailand, Chris Wailes, during roundtable session with the media, he said Malaysians will be able to see the ES90 very soon in the early part of next year and it is not a normal sedan. Wailes emphasised what they tried to do with the ES90 is very different to what's available in the market today and Volvo hopes to provide a compelling offering to customers that typically buy sedans. At the moment, Volvo Cars Malaysia has stopped offering new sedans and they don't have 2025 stocks for the S60 and S90. Their current passenger lineup are all SUVs which include the EX30, XC40, EC40, XC60, XC90 and EX90. Volvo Malaysia is still committed to launching a new EV model in Malaysia every year and they are also planning to begin local assembly for the EX90. The Volvo ES90 is a full Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) which shares the same SPA2 platform as the Volvo EX90 and the Polestar 3. Although it is called a sedan, Volvo is positioning the ES90 as a car that combines the elegance of a sedan, adaptability of a fastback with a spacious interior and higher ground clearance associated with SUVs. The ES90 is 5,000mm long and 1,942mm wide, and has a long wheelbase of 3,100mm. On its range-topping Twin Motor Performance model, it boasts 500kW (670hp) of power and 870Nm of torque, with a 0-100km/h time of 4.0 seconds. Equipped with a large 106kWh battery, the ES90 boasts a WLTP-rated range of 700km. Since it is based on an 800V architecture, the ES90 takes just 20 minutes to charge from 10-80% at a 350kW DC charging station. If you're in a hurry, a quick 10-minute top-up is said to be enough to provide up to 300km of range. Unlike a typical sedan, the rear boot opens up like a hatchback which provides up to 424 litres of cargo space. If you need more storage, it can be expanded up to 733 litres with the three individual rear seats folded. Similar to the ES90, it also features a 14.5″ central infotainment display with Google built-in along with a 9″ digital instrument cluster. As a new flagship EV, the ES90 is also the first Volvo to be powered by a dual Nvidia Drive AGX Orin configuration, making it the most powerful Volvo in terms of core computing capacity. The electric sedan also boasts Bowers & Wilkins sound system with 25 high-fidelity speakers which are also mounted on the headrest and ceilings. Safety remains a key highlight as the ES90 boasts a strong safety cage, state-of-the-art restraint systems, optimised deformation zones, paired to active safety systems powered by an array of sensors. This include one LiDAR, five radars, seven cameras and twelve ultrasonic sensors. —SOYACINCAU
The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
Volvo Group, Daimler look to technology joint venture in bid to save costs
FILE PHOTO: President and CEO of AB Volvo Martin Lundstedt stands in front of a Volvo truck, on the occasion of the publication of an interim report, in Gothenburg, Sweden, April 20, 2023. TT News Agency/Adam Ihse/File Photo GOTHENBURG (Reuters) -European truckmaking rivals AB Volvo and Daimler Truck hope to cut costs and reduce reliance on suppliers by jointly developing a software-defined vehicle program, they said on Tuesday. Fleets and truck manufacturers, like automakers, have been racing to produce technology-packed vehicles while also grappling with the need to reduce costs. Truckmakers are currently heavily reliant on suppliers because their software is closely tied to hardware, but Daimler and Volvo's new business - called Coretura - aims to develop a software-defined vehicle platform and reduce that dependence. The companies are looking to create an "industry standard", Daimler Trucks CEO Karin Radstrom told reporters. "We're looking at how we can move from our current reality where we are very much dependent on our suppliers - which drives both cost and sometimes timelines - and instead looking at what's the next generation of software that we need to bring to the vehicle", Radstrom said. The Gothenburg-based venture will employ 50 employees to start, with the hope of first deliveries of its connectivity platform in 2027 and further deliveries towards the end of the decade. "Everything in the vehicle industry is very much oriented around software and controlled by software", said Johan Lunden, a Volvo veteran and the newly appointed CEO of Coretura. Software will play an increasingly vital role in achieving sustainability, productivity, and safety targets in the future, he added. While rivals, Volvo Group and Daimler have collaborated on various businesses in recent years, such as within charging and hydrogen fuel cell development. (Reporting by Marie Mannes in Gothenburg and Jesus Calero in Gdansk; Editing by Matt Scuffham)
The Sun
06-06-2025
- The Sun
Volvo introduces world-first multi-adaptive safety belt
VOLVO CARS has unveiled a groundbreaking advancement in occupant protection technology with the debut of its multi-adaptive safety belt, set to launch in the fully electric Volvo EX60 in 2026. This new safety system is designed to provide tailored protection for vehicle occupants by using real-time data from the car's sophisticated sensor array, marking a major evolution of the original three-point safety belt first introduced by Volvo in 1959. Developed to address the diversity of human body types and the unpredictability of real-world collisions, the multi-adaptive safety belt responds dynamically to both individual occupant characteristics and the specifics of each crash scenario. Drawing input from both internal and external sensors, the system calibrates belt tension to suit variables such as a person's height, weight, body shape, and seating posture, as well as the angle and severity of a collision. The innovation lies in the belt's expanded use of load-limiting profiles, increasing the options from three to eleven. This significant leap enables the restraint system to apply a more precise level of force during an accident, balancing the need for secure restraint against the risk of injury from the belt itself. For example, in a serious collision involving a larger occupant, the system may apply a higher load threshold to reduce the chance of head trauma. Conversely, a smaller individual in a lower-impact crash would benefit from a lower load setting to reduce the likelihood of rib fractures. Volvo's ability to make such advancements is rooted in its extensive archive of safety data, comprising over 80,000 real-world accident cases and more than five decades of research. This empirical foundation underpins the Volvo Cars Safety Standard, a benchmark that often exceeds formal regulatory testing criteria. As part of its broader safety ecosystem, the new belt works in conjunction with existing in-car systems, including airbags, occupant monitoring, and driver assistance features. The integration ensures a cohesive response to crash events, providing layered protection and reducing the risk of secondary injuries. What further sets this system apart is its capacity for continuous improvement. Through over-the-air software updates, the safety belt's algorithms will evolve, learning from new data to refine their responses to emerging crash scenarios and more accurately assess the needs of different occupants. Volvo's Head of Safety Centre, Åsa Haglund, highlighted the significance of the innovation, describing it as a pivotal step in the company's mission to enhance traffic safety. She noted that by harnessing real-time data, the system represents a substantial upgrade to the original three-point safety belt—a device already credited with saving over a million lives. The development and testing of the multi-adaptive safety belt have taken place at the Volvo Cars Safety Centre crash laboratory in Gothenburg, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. This advanced testing facility allows engineers to simulate a wide array of crash scenarios, exceeding international standards in order to validate real-world safety effectiveness. Volvo's continued emphasis on occupant diversity and its use of comprehensive data ensures that its vehicles offer protection that reflects the varied realities of everyday traffic. The introduction of the multi-adaptive safety belt is another example of the company's leadership in automotive safety and its commitment to safeguarding all passengers, not just meeting regulations, but anticipating the future of road safety.
