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A Volvo Cars (VOLCAR B: STO. ADR OTC VLVCY) study published as part of the Enhance Safety of Vehicle (ESV) International Conference 2026 asserts that Volvo cars provide equal protection for women and men. The study was led by Lotta Jakobsson, Ph.D. Eng. and Thomas Broberg, Ph.Lic. Eng. at Volvo Cars Safety Centre.*
“For too long, safety in the automotive industry has not worked equally well for everyone,” said Åsa Haglund, head of Volvo Cars Safety Centre. “At Volvo Cars, we’ve taken a different approach. By studying real-world crashes and designing with the needs of women, men and children of all body types in mind, we’ve worked for decades to provide a high level of protection regardless of who you are or where you sit in the car. Our latest research confirms that equal protection is not just an ambition, but something we have been able to achieve in Volvo cars for many years.”
The Volvo Cars Study
Comparing Volvo car models from 2010–2019 with models from 1970–1979, overall injury risk for drivers has decreased by 79%. For women, the reduction is greater, at 88%, bringing injury risk to the same level as that of men.
- The results also show substantial advances in occupant protection across all seating positions. Restrained rear-seat occupants in Volvo cars benefit from protection levels comparable to, and in some cases exceeding, those of front-seat occupants.
- “This underscores the effectiveness of decades of rear-seat safety innovation in Volvo cars, despite the lack of stringent regulatory requirements and standardized testing over the years,” Volvo Cars said in a release.
The Approach Behind Equal Safety for Everyone
“Since 1970, Volvo Cars has collected data from over 50,000 real-world crashes involving more than 80,000 occupants. Through its Circle of Life safety development approach, these insights are translated into safety requirements, testing, vehicle development, verification and production. The result is a continuous cycle of learning that helps drive innovations and improve protection for everyone.
“This approach has also laid the foundation for the pioneering Volvo Cars Safety Standard. Volvo Cars sets its own benchmark for real-world safety, going above and beyond what is required in regulations or safety ratings. This includes developing and testing cars for a wider range of real-world crash scenarios across all seating positions.
“And because real world crashes don’t involve standardized crash test dummies, Volvo Cars’ research involves considering a diverse range of occupant characteristics, including gender, height, body shape and weight. As a result, the company’s safety innovations are designed with the same diversity in mind.
“Volvo Cars for decades has openly shared its safety research to help raise safety standards across the industry. As part of the Equal Vehicles for All (E.V.A.) initiative, launched in 2019, more than 50 years of safety research is freely accessible in a digital library – enabling other carmakers, researchers and policymakers to build on Volvo Cars’ unique real-world safety insights.” Volvo Cars said.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Volvo Cars Research Shows Equal Protection for Men, Women
Click for more.
A Volvo Cars (VOLCAR B: STO. ADR OTC VLVCY) study published as part of the Enhance Safety of Vehicle (ESV) International Conference 2026 asserts that Volvo cars provide equal protection for women and men. The study was led by Lotta Jakobsson, Ph.D. Eng. and Thomas Broberg, Ph.Lic. Eng. at Volvo Cars Safety Centre.*
“For too long, safety in the automotive industry has not worked equally well for everyone,” said Åsa Haglund, head of Volvo Cars Safety Centre. “At Volvo Cars, we’ve taken a different approach. By studying real-world crashes and designing with the needs of women, men and children of all body types in mind, we’ve worked for decades to provide a high level of protection regardless of who you are or where you sit in the car. Our latest research confirms that equal protection is not just an ambition, but something we have been able to achieve in Volvo cars for many years.”
The Volvo Cars Study
Comparing Volvo car models from 2010–2019 with models from 1970–1979, overall injury risk for drivers has decreased by 79%. For women, the reduction is greater, at 88%, bringing injury risk to the same level as that of men.
The Approach Behind Equal Safety for Everyone
“Since 1970, Volvo Cars has collected data from over 50,000 real-world crashes involving more than 80,000 occupants. Through its Circle of Life safety development approach, these insights are translated into safety requirements, testing, vehicle development, verification and production. The result is a continuous cycle of learning that helps drive innovations and improve protection for everyone.
“This approach has also laid the foundation for the pioneering Volvo Cars Safety Standard. Volvo Cars sets its own benchmark for real-world safety, going above and beyond what is required in regulations or safety ratings. This includes developing and testing cars for a wider range of real-world crash scenarios across all seating positions.
“And because real world crashes don’t involve standardized crash test dummies, Volvo Cars’ research involves considering a diverse range of occupant characteristics, including gender, height, body shape and weight. As a result, the company’s safety innovations are designed with the same diversity in mind.
“Volvo Cars for decades has openly shared its safety research to help raise safety standards across the industry. As part of the Equal Vehicles for All (E.V.A.) initiative, launched in 2019, more than 50 years of safety research is freely accessible in a digital library – enabling other carmakers, researchers and policymakers to build on Volvo Cars’ unique real-world safety insights.” Volvo Cars said.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.