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Volvo Brief History
In 1927, in Gothenburg, Sweden the first Swedish automobile named the Jacob rolled off the assembly line. The term Volvo translates from Latin into I roll.
The Volvo company was established by two men named Gustaf Larsson and Assar Gabrielsson with a background of safety and quality, which were both of particular importance. This concept still applies to the current Volvo automobiles.
The fledgling company produced both the cabriolet models with their new OV4 and PV4 four cylinder engines and the new closed top cabriolet models. Rather than simply withstanding the climate of the U.S., these were all designed to better withstand the harsh climate in Sweden. The Swedish symbol for iron, which is one of the characteristics of the heritage of Volvo that can still be seen on Volvo automobiles, is attached to a diagonal portion of metal.
In 1928, the six cylinder PV651 was launched, which was both longer and wider than the Jakob. Its success helped the Volvo company acquire its engine supplier and, by the end of 1931, purchase its first factory. This acquisition allowed the Volvo company to pay its first dividend to shareholders.
During the spring of 1932, the first production milestone of 10,000 Volvo automobiles was achieved. Before long, Volvo dealers were asking the Volvo company to produce a more inexpensive car that was more for the people. In 1936, this resulted in the introduction of the PV 51 model. In design, this model was like the more expensive PV36, although it was less well equipped and smaller in size.
The production of Volvo automobiles was restricted considerably by World War II. However, by late 1944, the Volvo company had launched one of its most significant automobiles, which was the first real small automobile manufactured by Volvo, which was the PV444. It was an immediate success as the result of its European size, American flair, and stylish design. Until the middle 1960s, the PV544 and the PV444 dominated Volvo production, and these would be the first models to gain Volvo a part of the important market in the United States since the 1950s.
In 1956, The Volvo 120, which was also known as the Amazon, was introduced, which was another popular Volvo production model. Accident protection and safety features were a primary factor in the design of this automobile, which was even enhanced further when both the PV544 and the Amazon were equipped with three-point safety belts in 1959. This was an innovation that was pioneered by a man named Nils Bohlin, who was the head of safety engineering for Volvo and the first of its kind in the world.
In 1956, the P1900, also known as the Sport, was launched as the first sports car produced by Volvo. However, in 1960, this sports car was replaced by the very successful P1800 after a short production run. The P1800 became famous with Roger Moore if the television series, The Saint, and was considered to have sleek coupe lines as well as being an excellent touring vehicle.
In Torslanda, Sweden, a new manufacturing facility was opened by the Volvo company by 1964. This production plant had the ability to produce and many as 200,000 automobiles each year.
Innovations in environmental care and safety continued apace with three way catalytic converters, side collision protection, rear-facing child seats, and crumple zones. All of these innovations were introduced between the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.
The Volvo 140 was replaced by the Volvo 240 range, which offered even higher levels of quality and safety. This model was joined by the smaller Volvo 340 models from Holland, which, by the end of the 1970’s, took Volvos sales beyond the four million mark.
In 1982, the Volvo 700 series brought the Volvo company closer to the exclusive market for high-quality, personalized automobiles. In the late 1980’s the Volvo 340 series replaced the Volvo 400. The Volvo 400 series which gained considerable respect its safety and road holding ability, in addition to its generous amount of interior and safety space.
During the summer of 1991, a completely different and new Volvo was introduced the world. The Volvo 850 was the first front wheel drive vehicle produced by Volvo that offered a transverse mounted five-cylinder engine. The automobile won many independent awards as the result of the combination of its high level of safety and real driving pleasure.
In 1993, the Volvo company was left as one of the few independent automobile manufactures as the proposed merger with Renault fell through in its final phases. This resulted in a change in the plans by the Volvo company an allowed the Volvo company to develop new dynamic product strategy with the introduction of the more rounded and sleek designs of the Volvo V40 and S40 in 1996.
Much the same as the Volvo C70 convertible and coupe e that were introduced later that same year, the VolvoV40 and S40 automobiles combined the conventional values of Volvo that included exciting engineering and design, sporty elegance, environmental care, as well as safety.
>From 1927 through 2016 Volvo produced some 19,355,435 automobiles.