MOTORING NEWS - At the forefront of automotive safety since its genesis, Volvo has unveiled the world’s first multi-adaptive safety belt, which will feature in the forthcoming Volvo EX60.
Set to debut with the fresh-faced EX60 SUV in 2026, Volvo Cars has a new multi-adaptive safety belt, which it says marks a significant evolution of the classic three-point belt the brand first introduced in 1959.
This is the life-saving automotive safety invention credited with saving over a million lives globally.
This next-generation safety belt uses real-time data from the car’s technologically advanced network of interior and exterior sensors to optimise protection for every person in the cabin.
It adapts not only to the specific crash scenario but also to the unique physical profile of the occupant, taking into account factors such as height, weight, body shape and seating position.
In practice, this means that a larger adult involved in a high-speed collision would receive a stronger belt load setting to help minimise the risk of head injury, while a smaller occupant in a lower-impact crash would receive a gentler setting to reduce the chance of rib fractures.
Volvo has increased the number of available load-limiting profiles from three to 11, which it adds, enhances the belt’s ability to modulate force. Unlike traditional systems, this multi-adaptive safety belt can dynamically alter its response by processing information such as crash direction, vehicle speed and passenger posture in less than the blink of an eye.
The system then selects the optimal belt setting to match the scenario. Living in a digital age, Volvo says this adaptive approach is made even more powerful through over-the-air software updates.
The Swedish automaker continues to collect crash data and refine its algorithms, the multi-adaptive belt will be able to improve over time, enhancing both predictive accuracy and real-world performance.
It forms part of a wider safety ecosystem that integrates with the vehicle’s airbags, occupant detection systems and advanced driver assistance features, working together to reduce injury risk.
“Volvo’s world-first multi-adaptive safety belt is another milestone in our long safety journey and a great example of how we leverage real-time data to help save lives,” says Åsa Haglund, head of the Volvo Cars Safety Centre.
“It represents a major upgrade to the modern three-point safety belt, which has been our cornerstone for over 60 years.”
All of the aforementioned data is underpinned by Volvo’s comprehensive crash database, which includes information from more than 80 000 real-life accidents. This data-driven foundation allows the company to design systems that go beyond regulatory standards and better reflect the complexities of everyday driving scenarios.
As expected, the new belt has undergone extensive development and crash testing at the Volvo Cars Safety Centre in Gothenburg, Sweden.
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