Volvo has unveiled the world’s first “multi-adaptive” seat belts that automatically adjusts to different situations, offering even better protection for occupants. This new innovation is set to debut in the upcoming Volvo EX60 electric vehicle (EV) that will be unveiled in 2026.
Volvo says the new seat belt is designed to better protect occupants by adapting to traffic variations, as well as the person wearing it. This new system uses data inputs from interior and exterior sensors for customised protection. It will adapt to the individual’s profiles such as height, weight, body shape, and seating position.
For example, a larger person in a serious accident will receive more load from the safety belt during impact, while a smaller person in a milder accident receives less load if put in a similar situation, reducing the chance of serious injuries like rib fractures.
This is achieved by significantly increasing the number of so-called load-limiting profile variations (from three to 11), which manage the force applied to the occupants in the event of an accident.
The new multi-adaptive seatbelt system is built on over five decades of safety research, and a database of over 80,000 occupants involved in real-life accidents. Volvo uses these data to further develop new safety technology that exceeded official testing requirements.
Additionally, the new adaptive safety belt system can also improve over time with the ability to receive over-the-air updates
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Head of Volvo Cars Safety Centre, Åsa Haglund, said, “The world’s first multi-adaptive safety belt is another milestone for automotive safety and a great example of how we leverage real-time data with the ambition to help save millions of more lives.”
“This marks a major upgrade to the modern three-point safety belt, a Volvo invention introduced in 1959, estimated to have saved over a million lives,” she added.
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