History of Volvo

For more than 80 years of Volvo Cars of the road to conquer the whole world. Company history, the first years of its existence are reflected in many documents. Happy Birthday VOLVO is April 14, 1927 - the day when the factory in Gothenburg, the first car went under the name "Jacob". But the real story of Concern began several years later. 20-ies are characterized by the beginning of the actual development of the automotive industry both in the U.S. and Europe. In Sweden, a really became interested in cars in 1923 after a show in Gothenburg. In the early 20-ies in the country imported 12,000 vehicles. In 1925 their number reached 14.5 thousand in the international market vendors, in pursuit of increasing their volumes are not always selective approach to component parts, so the quality of the finished product is often left much to be desired, but as a consequence, many of these manufacturers quickly went bankrupt. For the creators VOLVO quality issue was fundamental. Therefore, their main task was to make the right choice among suppliers. In addition, after assembly required tests. To this day, VOLVO follows this principle. Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson, are the creators of VOLVO. Assar Gabrielsson's son Gabriel Gabrielsson, office manager, and Anna Larsson, born August 13, 1891 in Kosberg, the county of Skaraborg. Graduated High School Norra Latin in Stockholm in 1909. Received a Bachelor of Economics and Business at the School of Economists in Stockholm in 1911. Having worked for an official and a stenographer in the Lower House of the Swedish Parliament, Gabrielsson got a place in the company's commercial manager "SKF" in 1916 VOLVO founded and served as President until 1956. Son of Lars Larson, a farmer, and Hilda Magnesson, was born July 8, 1887 in Vintrose, County Erebro. In 1911 he graduated from the Technical elementary school in Erebro; an engineering degree at the Royal Institute of Technology in 1917. In England, from 1913 to 1916 he worked as a design engineer in the company's "White and Popper Ltd". After graduating from the Royal Institute of Technology Gustaf Larson worked for the company "SKF" as manager and chief engineer of the transmission division of a company in Gothenburg and Katrinholme from 1917 to 1920 worked as a manager at the factory, and later, Technical Director and Executive Vice-President of the company "Nya AB Gaico "from 1920 to 1926 worked with the Assar Gabrielsson in order to create" VOLVO ". From 1926 to 1952 - Technical Director and Executive Vice-President of the company "VOLVO". For several years with the company "SKF" Assar Gabrielsson noted that the Swedish ball-bearings were inexpensive compared to prices in the international standard, and increasingly strengthened the idea of ??the production of Swedish cars, which would be able to compete with American cars. Assar Gabrielsson Gustaf Larson worked with for several years with the company "SKF", and the two men worked well together for several years in the British automotive industry, have learned to recognize and respect the experience and know-how "of each other. Gustaf Larson also had to create their own forms of the Swedish automotive industry. Their similar views and objectives have led to cooperation after the first of several encounters in 1924 as a result they decided to found a Swedish car company. While Gustaf Larson hired a young mechanic to assemble cars, Assar Gabrielsson studied the economic basis for the implementation of their ideas. In the summer of 1925 Assar Gabrielsson was forced to use their own savings to finance a trial series of products, consisting of 10 passenger cars. The machines were assembled at the factory "Galco's Stockholm", attracted the interest of "SKF", the share of capital which the company "VOLVO" was 200 000 SEK. Also, "SKF" made "VOLVO" under control, but are able to increase automobile company. All the works were moved to Gothenburg and the adjacent Hisingen and equipment company "SKF" ultimately was moved to production areas "VOLVO". Assar Gabrielsson singled out four basic criteria to promote successful development of the Swedish car company: Sweden has a developed industrial country, the low level of wages in Sweden, Swedish steel had a solid reputation around the world, there is a clear need for passenger cars on Swedish roads. Gabrielsson and Larson's decision to begin production of passenger cars in Sweden has been clearly stated and based on some concepts of business: - production of cars VOLVO. "VOLVO" and will be responsible for the design of machines and for the assembly work and materials and components will be acquired from other companies - to provide basic strategic subcontractors. "VOLVO" should find good support and, if necessary, the partners in the field of rail transport. - Concentration on exports. Export sales began a year after the launch conveyor production. - Attention to quality. No effort or cost be spared in the creation of the car. Cheaper to produce in the right direction at the beginning of the path than to let mistakes and correct them in the end. This is one of the main frame Assar Gabrielsson. If the Assar Gabrielsson was shrewd in business, the brilliant financier and merchant Gustaf Larson was a genius of engineering. However, Gabrielsson and Larson controlled the two main areas of activity "VOLVO" - economics and engineering. Efforts of two people based on the determination and discipline - two qualities that are often the key to business success in the industry for the 1 st half of the XX century. Such was their general approach, which laid the foundation of the first and most important value VOLVO - Quality Company "SKF" made a major guarantor of the production of the first thousand cars: 500 - convertibles and 500 - hard. Since one of the main activities of "SKF" is the production of bearings, the car was invited to name "VOLVO", which translated from Latin means "I roll". Thus, 1927 was the year of birth VOLVO.Dlya characteristics of their offspring was essential character. They became the Swedish steel and heavy industry, since the cars began to be made from Swedish steel. "The symbol of iron" or "symbol of Mars," as it was called after the Roman god of war, was placed in the center of the grille on the first passenger car VOLVO, and later on all trucks VOLVO. "Sign of Mars," tightly attached to the radiator simplest method: steel rim was attached diagonally across the front grille. As a result, the diagonal band has become a reliable and well-known symbol of "VOLVO" and its products, is actually one of the strongest brands in the automotive industry. By selecting the seventh year in each decade, we noted the key milestones in the development of the Swedish company. 1927 April 14 factory on the island Hizingen in Gothenburg opened the gates and let the light of the first production car is Volvo. The first Volvo was called OV4 - Swedish abbreviation that stands for "car with an open top and four-cylinder engine. OV4 cost 4,800 Swedish kronor. Soon the company started to produce models with a roof - PV4 added to the price of another 1000 euros. In the Volvo planned to produce 500 vehicles for each model, but this year, Volvo managed to build and sell only 297 cars. Now Volvo is building a number of 3 hours. Leading the company's two founding: President Assar Gabrielson and Gustaf Larson, Technical Director - they will be led by Volvo until mid-fifties. 1937 Volvo makes first attempt to launch a new model capable of providing massive sales. PV51 can not be compared with the elegant smooth lines PV36 Carioca, but the new car has a similar character, and under the hood housed a similar six-cylinder engine. Sales PV51 high. In early 1937 there is another new model - PV52. Compared with PV51, this car is much better equipped, but in general they are very similar. During the year the company produces 1,815 cars. 1947 Behind the six years of war and strike at engineering companies in Sweden. Start of production of the new model was complicated by the lack of materials. Only in February, the company will now begin to assemble PV444. This is the first small Volvo with monocoque body and engines with overhead camshafts. By the beginning of the production Volvo has already received 10,181 orders, taking into account the total production of 12000. The first 2300 cars Volvo is selling at a loss for themselves, but without losing "face": these cars have been paid in advance at a price of 4,800 euros in 1944 during the premiere. In 1947, the price of the new PV444 is already 8,000 kroons. Volvo is becoming a powerful corporation with a staff of 3000 people and 112 million euros turnover per year. Production volume this year has already reached 2,531 vehicles. 1957 autumn of 1956 Volvo introduces new Volvo Amazon. In early 1957 the company began mass production. If you receive a new Volvo at the factory, it will cost 12,600 euros. During the year a set of standard equipment includes attachments for the two-point safety belts for driver and front passenger. Are launched last Volvo Sport - all were produced only 67 unique vehicles. In 1957, completed production of the PV444. For the past two years, Volvo has been active in North America and enter other markets. This year's total headcount was 13,000 people, and for the year produced 42,192 cars. 1967 The new Volvo 144 was unveiled in August 1966 and mass production begins in 1967. The car costs 19,300 euros offers significant innovations in the field of security. On a new Volvo installed front and rear disc brakes front and rear, collapsible steering column and a new fastening device of three-point seatbelts. In the back of the car in front and rear energy absorption structure is implemented, and the braking system has a unique triangular two-circuit scheme. Volvo is the world's first seat for a child to be installed against the direction of motion. In the Volvo cars are beginning to install seat belts in rear seats. At year end, enter the market changed Wagon - Volvo 145. On models with twin carburettors delivered to the U.S. market, establish a system of filtration of exhaust gases. Production volume reaches 148,742 cars. 1977 Volvo celebrates 50 year anniversary. In honor of the memorable day the company produces a special version of the 240 series, which will replace the 140 series cars. In the same year the public is represented Volvo 262 Coupe - an exclusive model designed and produced by famous Italian designers Carrozzeria Bertone. Volvo takes the first "eco car" - a small two-seat model of the electric range. Total produced two cars. Protecting the environment - is a priority for Volvo. Over the past two years, cars Volvo, raised in California, have been equipped with innovative devices worldwide: three-way catalytic converter with oxygen sensor. The generating company AB Volvo there last year - next year a decision to establish an independent subsidiary fully controlled by Volvo - Volvo Car Corporation. During the year the company produces 225,700 cars with the logo of Volvo. 1987 For the past two decades has increased markedly in the proportion of the total estate cars Volvo. Now Volvo is a leading provider of generalists in the corresponding segment - for a year produces about 120,000 such vehicles. Volvo supplies to Europe cars with catalytic converters and oxygen sensors. Model 760, a more exclusive version of the 700 series, modernized, updated appearance and gets a new technical solution, including a new independent rear suspension Multilink. Volvo celebrates 60 years: the streets of his native city of Gothenburg for the company passes a parade of cars Volvo. The company continues to thrive and for the year produces a record number of cars - 423800. 1997 For the first time in more than 40 years, Volvo is a car with an open top - C70 Convertible. This is the first Volvo with folding roof since the release of the Volvo Sport in the 50's of last century. The company offers another innovation: a new four-wheel drive V70 XC. All-wheel drive all-wheel drive was introduced in Volvo cars for a year before the V70 XC. New Volvo V70 XC is positioned as a reliable sports tuned car with higher ground clearance and advanced all-wheel drive. The concept of XC is the most important technological implementation of Volvo Cars, and the company then started manufacturing cars in this series in high volumes. Zadneprivodnye Volvo (their company produces three models) produced last year. The next year there are new cars Volvo. And two years later Ford Motor Company bought Volvo Cars. In 1997, 387,400 cars were manufactured by Volvo. 2007 Jubilee year begins with the Motor Show in Detroit, where Volvo is a new concept XC60. Looking back and peering to the characteristic features of the cars that the company produced over the past decade, a new car can hardly find Volvo. Conceptual model XC60 - a striking crossover. The design of the car carried an unusual decision, XC60 confer a unique appearance. In the same year, Volvo is introducing a new version of its leading models - V70 and XC70, made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show. "Today, we produce the same car for three hours, how many failed to produce the entire 1927. Since that memorable April day in 1927, Volvo has produced nearly 15 million vehicles. For 80 years we have accumulated extensive experience, knowledge and advanced technology, and Every year we take another step forward. Model 2007 - are excellent vehicles Volvo, and we will offer our customers many new features. All new Volvo models share a common goal - to win the confidence of a new generation of owners. And the older a company gets, the closer the cars Volvo to young buyers, "- said Fredrik Arp, President and Chief Executive Officer of Volvo Car Corporation