Volvo Cars has once again proven that safety is not just their tradition, but almost a religion. Their new multi-adjustable seatbelt — the Volvo Smart Seatbelt — which will debut in the all-electric Volvo EX60 SUV, has been named one of the best inventions of 2025 by TIME magazine. Yes, we’re talking about a seatbelt that doesn’t just tighten — it thinks.
The new system – Volvo Smart Seatbelt – automatically adjusts to the driver and passengers – based on their height, weight, seat position, even traffic conditions. Advanced sensors and real-time data allow the belt to react differently if you're a petite passenger or a six-foot-tall driver.
If an accident occurs, the system – Volvo’s Smart Seatbelt – will apply a higher tension force to a stronger body and a lower tension force to a smaller one – to prevent rib or head injuries. Elegantly simple, brilliantly effective.
And since we live in the era of "everything smart", this belt is also constantly updated via the Internet. Yes, your car is now receiving software update for seat belts – welcome to 2026.
Volvo and safety: almost a century of innovations that have become the standard
This is not the first time that Volvo sets the safty bar. Years 1959 is their engineer Nils Bohlin presented first three-point seat belt – and then, in an extraordinary move, offered without patent restrictions. In doing so, he literally saved millions of lives.
Volvo later introduced a number of other safety innovations:
- rear-facing child seat (1964),
- side airbags (1994),
- pedestrian detection with automatic braking (2010),
- and Driver Understanding System, which detects driver fatigue or inattention (2024).
In short, if the car has become a safe space, we can thank – at least in part – the Swedish obsession with precision and common sense.
TIME: where innovation meets impact
Magazine TIME compiles its list of the best inventions from global submissions, evaluating each according to four key criteria: originality, effectiveness, ambition, and impact.
Volvo was ranked already for the second year in a row – which is no small achievement. In 2024, their system ranked there Driver Understanding, and this year, Volvo's smart seatbelt, which could become the new industry norm.
EX60 – Swedish safety zen
New Volvo EX60, where the belt will be premiered, will be revealed January 21, 2026 in Stockholm. It is a fully electric mid-size SUV, the successor to the extremely successful XC60, which was one of best-selling models of the brand.
If EX60 and its safety arsenal sounds as good as it promises, then it might set a new standard – the Volvo Smart Seatbelt – this time not just in technology, but also in the feeling of being truly safe.
Volvo today
Volvo Cars operates in more than 100 countries, employs around 42,600 people, and is listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm stock exchange. In 2024, the company achieved a record operating profit of SEK 27 billion and record-breaking 763,389 vehicles sold.
Their goal remains clear: by 2040 to become a manufacturer with a zero carbon footprint and an exclusively electric fleet.
Finally – a dog with personality
In an era where cars are becoming computers on wheels, Volvo insists on its essence: technology must to protect a person, don't overshadow it.
If the new seat belt really works as promised, then we can relax in our seats, fasten our seatbelts – and let the Swedes take care of the rest.
