Volvo Safety Initiative

New Volvo Safety Initiative

Volvo has recently collaborated with an extreme sports company in an effort to try and improve safety between vehicles and cyclists. The brand has signed an agreement with POC, a fellow Swedish firm that creates high technology protective sports clothing.

The research between this new partnering will firstly focus on the communication between cyclists and cars. Jan Ivarsson, who is Volvo's Senior manager of safety strategy and requirements has said that communication with cyclists that focuses on the car is a potential extension Volvo's Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection technology which was ground breaking. The technology monitors the surroundings of a car and will apply it's brakes instantly when a collision, like a pedestrian or cyclist is detected.

Ivarsson also said that if cyclists are provided with confirmation that they have been seen by the vehicle then it will make the interaction between cyclists and vehicles run smoothly and a lot more safe in urban areas.

This news comes before the official unveiling of the Concept XC Coupe model from Volvo which will be next week at the Detroit Motor Show. This concept was created with inspirations from modern sports gear and will mostly appeal to drivers who have more active lifestyles.

Thomas Ingenlath who is Volvo's design senior vice president said that exterior graphics and several orange details combined with the use of matte rubber mouldings, which cover the back of the vehicle add to the expression of the design which is highly functional.

He went on to say that Volvo and POC's partnership will be fruitful and inspiring. Both of the companies have a very strong focus on protection and safety. Ingenlath said that POC can inspire Volvo in making safety an emotional experience, along with creating even more sought after vehicles.

Volvo have recently been in the news regarding electrically powered vehicles, the firm announced a number of years ago that they will not be developing an electrically powered vehicle. However, as the electric car market developed it seemed to be a very big mistake to make such a statement. But, Japanese manufacturers Mazda have gone down a similar route and decided to develop engines further and promise to be eclipsing figures achieved by electrically powered vehicles by 2020.