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TimesLIVE
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Volvo unveils the world's first multi-adaptive safety belt
Swedish brand Volvo Cars has unveiled an improved safety belt. The new multi-adaptive safety belt is a world first technology designed to better protect people by adapting to traffic variations and the person wearing it, thanks to real-time data from the car's sensors. Data input from interior and exterior sensors is used to customise protection, adapting the setting based on the situation and person's profiles, such as their height, weight, body shape and seating position. In less than a blink of an eye, the car's system analyses the unique characteristics of a crash — such as direction, speed and passenger posture — and shares that information with the safety belt. Modern safety belts use load limiters to control how much force the safety belt applies on the human body during a crash. The new safety belt expands the load-limiting profiles from three to 11 and increases the possible number of settings, enabling it to optimise performance for each situation and individual. For example, a larger occupant in a serious crash will receive a higher belt load setting to help reduce the risk of head injury, while a smaller occupant in a milder crash will receive a lower belt load setting to reduce the risk of rib fractures. The belt has been tested and further developed at the Volvo Cars Safety Centre crash lab where engineers can recreate almost any traffic accident and perform tests for real-world safety. 'The world first multi-adaptive safety belt is another milestone for automotive safety and a great example of how we leverage real-time data with the aim to help save millions of lives,' said Åsa Haglund, head of Volvo Cars Safety Centre. 'This marks a major upgrade to the modern three-point safety belt, a Volvo invention introduced in 1959, estimated to have saved more than a million lives.' The new safety belt will debut in the upcoming fully electric Volvo EX60 in 2026, but Volvo made automotive history when the first car fitted as standard with three-point safety belts was delivered on August 13 1959. Since then, Swedish mechanical engineer and inventor Nils Bohlin's invention has been fitted to millions of cars. Here are some of the most important milestones in Volvo Cars' child protection history: 1964 — first child seat prototype; 1967 — reversible front passenger seat with special child backrest; 1972 — Volvo's first rearward-facing child seat; 1976 — the booster cushion — a world first from Volvo; 1990 — world's first integrated booster cushion; 1999 — world's first rearward-facing seat for Isofix; 2007 — world's first two-stage integrated booster cushion; and 2014 — inflatable child seat concept.


The Citizen
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
World's 1st multi-adaptive safety belt unveiled by Volvo
At the forefront of automotive safety since its genesis, Volvo has unveiled the world's first multi-adaptive safety belt, which will feature in the forthcoming Volvo EX60. Looking for a new or used Volvo? Find it here with CARmag! Set to debut with the fresh-faced EX60 SUV in 2026, Volvo Cars has a new multi-adaptive safety belt, which it says marks a significant evolution of the classic three-point belt the brand first introduced in 1959. This is the life-saving automotive safety invention credited with saving over a million lives globally. This next-generation safety belt uses real-time data from the car's technologically advanced network of interior and exterior sensors to optimise protection for every person in the cabin. It adapts not only to the specific crash scenario but also to the unique physical profile of the occupant, taking into account factors such as height, weight, body shape and seating position. In practice, this means that a larger adult involved in a high-speed collision would receive a stronger belt load setting to help minimise the risk of head injury, while a smaller occupant in a lower-impact crash would receive a gentler setting to reduce the chance of rib fractures. Related: Volvo Confirms XC70 as First Firm's First Extended PHEV Volvo has increased the number of available load-limiting profiles from three to 11, which it adds, enhances the belt's ability to modulate force. Unlike traditional systems, this multi-adaptive safety belt can dynamically alter its response by processing information such as crash direction, vehicle speed and passenger posture in less than the blink of an eye. The system then selects the optimal belt setting to match the scenario. Living in a digital age, Volvo says this adaptive approach is made even more powerful through over-the-air software updates. The Swedish automaker continues to collect crash data and refine its algorithms, the multi-adaptive belt will be able to improve over time, enhancing both predictive accuracy and real-world performance. It forms part of a wider safety ecosystem that integrates with the vehicle's airbags, occupant detection systems and advanced driver assistance features, working together to reduce injury risk. Related: Volvo Warns Against Filming Smartphone Camera Zapping LiDAR System 'Volvo's world-first multi-adaptive safety belt is another milestone in our long safety journey and a great example of how we leverage real-time data to help save lives,' says Åsa Haglund, head of the Volvo Cars Safety Centre. 'It represents a major upgrade to the modern three-point safety belt, which has been our cornerstone for over 60 years.' All of the aforementioned data is underpinned by Volvo's comprehensive crash database, which includes information from more than 80 000 real-life accidents. This data-driven foundation allows the company to design systems that go beyond regulatory standards and better reflect the complexities of everyday driving scenarios. As expected, the new belt has undergone extensive development and crash testing at the Volvo Cars Safety Centre in Gothenburg, Sweden. Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag! The post Volvo Reinvents The Seatbelt With First Multi-Adaptive Safety Belt For The EX60 appeared first on CAR Magazine. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.


NZ Autocar
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
Volvo updates seatbelt design for a better fit
Sino-Swedish car maker, Volvo, has improved upon the traditional seatbelt with a design that improves crash safety performance. New multi-adaptive safety belt – exploded view It will debut in the upcoming EX60 due out next year. The safety belt update caters its crash response according to the occupant's shape and size. Volvo pioneered the use of the three-point safety belt but its new 'multi-adaptive safety belt' goes a step further. It uses sensors to analyse an occupant's height, weight, body shape and seating position and responds accordingly in the event of a crash. Multi-adaptive safety belt customises protection for different people in different scenarios. A larger occupant will receive a higher belt load, Volvo says, to reduce the risk of head injury. But the belt will respond less severely to smaller passengers to lessen the impact on their ribs. The system – developed along with ZF Lifetech – will also respond differently according to the nature of the impact. It harvests data from sensors around the car in milliseconds to determine how much force the seatbelt should apply. Today's seatbelts feature three 'load-limiting profiles'. Volvo's new device ups that to 11. Volvo reckons that with over-the-air software updates, the system will 'get better over time'. As Volvo gathers more crash safety data, 'the car can improve its understanding of the occupants, new scenarios and response strategies'. Volvo Cars Safety Centre Crash Lab Åsa Haglund, who runs Volvo Cars' Safety Centre, said: 'The world first multi-adaptive safety belt is another milestone for automotive safety and a great example of how we leverage real-time data with the ambition to help save more lives. 'This marks a major upgrade to the modern three-point safety belt, a Volvo invention introduced in 1959, estimated to have saved over a million lives.' The new seatbelt's unveiling marks the 25th anniversary of the Safety Centre.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Volvo Cars unveils multi-adaptive safety belt for EX60
Geely-owned Volvo Cars has introduced a "world-first" multi-adaptive safety belt technology, set to debut in the fully electric Volvo EX60 in 2026. This innovative feature is designed to offer unprecedented protection by adapting to both the traffic environment and the individual characteristics of passengers, utilising real-time data from the vehicle's sensors. The multi-adaptive safety belt represents a significant advancement in automotive safety. It adjusts its settings in response to various factors, including the severity of a crash and the specific profile of the person wearing it. By considering attributes such as height, weight, body shape, and seating position, the system customises the level of restraint provided, aiming to minimise injury risks in the event of a collision. For instance, in a severe crash, a larger occupant would experience a higher belt load setting, which is crucial in reducing the likelihood of head injuries. Conversely, a smaller person in a less intense crash would benefit from a lower belt load setting, decreasing the chance of rib fractures. Moreover, the system's capacity for continuous improvement through over-the-air software updates ensures that the safety belt will evolve and enhance its protective capabilities over time. Volvo Cars Safety Centre head Åsa Haglund said: 'The world first multi-adaptive safety belt is another milestone for automotive safety and a great example of how we leverage real-time data with the ambition to help save millions of more lives. This marks a major upgrade to the modern three-point safety belt, a Volvo invention introduced in 1959, estimated to have saved over a million lives.' In another development, Volvo Cars has reported a 12% decline in global sales for May, with 59,822 vehicles sold. This decrease represents a notable change in the company's sales performance when compared to the same month in the previous year. "Volvo Cars unveils multi-adaptive safety belt for EX60" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio


The Sun
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- 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.