The History of Volvo
The Volvo Group is a Swedish multinational manufacturing company, founded in 1927 following the release of their first car, named "Jakob". Volvo's original mission was to build cars that could withstand the rigors of Sweden's rough roads and cold temperatures.
Volvo unveiled their first luxury car in 1933, entitled the PV645. This momentous event was short-lived due to the outbreak of World War 2, forcing production to be significantly restricted, as many factories were repurposed for the production of military equipment. However, by 1944, Volvo introduced what would be one of their most historic vehicles - the Volvo PV444, that would dominate production and break the US car market post-war.
The 1950s saw substantial growth for Volvo, entering the sports car market with their P1900 model in 1956. It was also a popular time for the Volvo PV544 model, as the high cost of hotel rooms made the concept of an all-in-one vehicle extremely desirable for business travellers and vacationers.
One of Volvo's major innovations was the introduction of the three-point safety belt we all rely on today, saving an estimated one million lives by 2009 as a result. This information was shared with all major car manufacturers to increase car safety on a global scale. Innovations continued throughout the 60s and 70s to consolidate Volvo's ethos of safety, with crumple zones, rear facing child seats, collapsible steering columns and side collision protection.
In 1999, Ford Motor Company acquired the Volvo Car Corporation for $6.45 billion, which formed part of the Volvo Group. As a result, Volvo's innovative engineering components would be used in a variety of vehicles owned by Ford, including the Land Rover Freelander.
Volvo's most recent focus has been on sustainability and improving their environmental practises. Their ambition by 2025 is to have at least 25% of the plastic used in every new car to be made from recycled material. In addition, Volvo Cars is the only car manufacturer to be invited to the G7 environmental summit, highlighting their position as an industry leader in sustainability.
With pick up locations across the UK including major city airports, hiring a Volvo from Manchester, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow or Birmingham has never been easier.