Which country produces Volvo cars. Volvo: The history of the brand. Two people united by one idea

In Latin Volvo means “I roll,” the circle with arrows is just a convenient symbol of steel - the largest industry in Sweden before iKEA. The circle and arrow symbolize the shield and spear of Mars, which are also alchemical symbols of iron. In 1924, in the Stockholm restaurant Sturehof on July 25 - the day which is called Jacob's day in the Swedish calendar - Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson decided to create a Volvo.

Volvo's birthday is April 14, 1927, the day the first Jakob left the factory in Gothenburg. However, the real history of the development of the concern began a few years later. The 1920s are characterized by the beginning of the real development of the automotive industry simultaneously in the USA and Europe. In Sweden, they became really interested in cars in 1923 after an exhibition in Gothenburg. In the early 1920s, 12 thousand cars were imported into the country. In 1925 their number reached 14.5 thousand. In the international market, manufacturers, in pursuit of increasing their volumes, did not always selectively approach components, so the quality of the final product often left much to be desired, and as a result, many of these manufacturers quickly went bankrupt. For Volvo's creators, quality was fundamental. Therefore, their main task was to make the right choice among suppliers. In addition, tests were carried out after assembly. To this day, Volvo has followed this principle. Let's find out the history of this brand in more detail ...

1927 Volvo OV4 "The Jakob"

Created by Volvo

Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson are the creators of Volvo. Assar Gabrielsson - the son of Gabriel Gabrielsson, the office manager, and Anna Larson - was born on 13 August 1891 in Kosberg, Skaraborg. Graduated from the Higher Latin School of Knorra in Stockholm in 1909. Received a BA in Economics and Business from the School of Economists in Stockholm in 1911. After working as a clerk and stenographer in the lower house of the Swedish Parliament, Gabrielsson secured a job as a trade manager at SKF in 1916. He founded Volvo and served as president until 1956.

Gustaf Larson - the son of Lars Larson, a farmer, and Hilda Magnesson - was born on July 8, 1887 in Vintros, County Erebro. In 1911 he graduated from the technical elementary school in Erebro; received an engineering degree from the Royal Institute of Technology in 1917. In England, from 1913 to 1916, he worked as a design engineer at White and Popper Ltd. After graduating from the Royal Institute of Technology, Gustaf Larson worked for SKF as a manager and chief engineer of the company's transmission department in Gothenburg and Katrinholm from 1917 to 1920. He worked as a plant manager and later as a technical director and executive vice president of Nya AB Gaico with 1920-1926 Collaborated with Assar Gabrielsson to build Volvo. From 1926 to 1952 - Technical Director and Executive Vice President of Volvo.

Volvo's story began with crayfish

As the book "Volvo Cars" narrates, the history of Volvo begins in June 1924, when Assar Gabrielson, the future managing director of the brand, happened to meet in a cafe with former college classmate Gustav Larson, who would later become the technical director of Volvo. They had a short conversation in a cafe that day, and Gabrielson proposed the idea of creating a car manufacturing enterprise. Gustav Larson agreed that they should have discussed this topic in more detail, but he considered the proposal itself hardly serious and did not attach particular importance to it. Perhaps this idea would not have received development if they had not met a second time in August of the same year.
Here is how Gustav Larson describes this meeting, recalling Assar Gabrielson (the article was published in Volvo magazine after Gabrielson's death in 1962): “I accidentally walked by the Sture-hof restaurant. I saw an advertisement for fresh crayfish, and decided to go inside, where saw Gabriel sitting alone in front of a mountain of red crayfish. I joined him and we took crayfish with great appetite. " So they sat at the same table. Gabrielson had an excellent opportunity to revisit his idea. The verbal agreement, which they reached in August 1924, took the form of a formalized document on December 16, 1925.
This document proclaimed the following: "I, Gabrielson, intending to establish a car manufacturing enterprise in Sweden, I make an offer to G. Larson to cooperate with me as an engineer." "I, Larson, accept this offer." Gustav Larson had to design a new car. The remuneration for this work would be between 5,000 and 20,000 Swedish kronor, provided that production reaches an industrial level - at least 100 cars per year by January 1, 1928. If the target level of production is not achieved, Larson agreed not to claim any what payment. The chassis drawings for the new car were ready six months before the signing of this agreement.
On April 14, 1927, the first production car Volvo was born - the birth year of the automotive industry in Sweden. On that day, the gates of the factory on the island of Hisingen, Gothenburg, were thrown open. The first Volvo car drove out of the gate. It was an open-topped phaeton with a four-cylinder engine. Sales manager Hilmer Johansson was driving.
The designer Mass-Olle was guided by American methods when designing it. The car was equipped with a 1.9-liter 4-cylinder engine with side valves. Under the designation "OV-4" it was offered with an open body, the version "PV-4" was a sedan.
The short drive to the place where the press was waiting for the car passed without incident. But the night before was not an easy one for those in charge of assembling the car. The last parts needed for assembly arrived by train from Stockholm the previous evening. The rush that accompanied the assembly of the car made itself felt: when in the morning engineer Eric Karlberg decided to inspect and check the car, it turned out that it could only move backward. The main component in the rear axle gearbox was installed incorrectly. Such a beginning was perceived as a good omen: from that moment on, the movement should have been only in the forward direction.
The car was called simply and uncomplicated - OV4 and had the affectionate nickname Jacob (Jacob). The letters OV indicated the model was an open-top car, and the number 4 was the number of cylinders in the engine. Volvo Jacob was engineered with an American design, a powerful chassis and independent suspension with long springs at the front and rear. The engine developed a power of 28 hp. at 2000 rpm. The maximum speed of the car was quite decent for that time - 90 km / h.
Initially, Swedish buyers were not eager to buy new cars
The car's four-aperture body was painted dark blue, and the black mudguards stood out against this background. The Jacob open 5-seater had four doors and was constructed from sheet steel with an ash and copper beech frame. The interior was upholstered in leather, the front panel was in wood. Unlike the seats in many other cars, the seats of the first Volvo were sprung. The wheel structure of this car was a removable rim that was mounted on lacquered wood spokes. Minor luxury items in the cabin included a small flower vase, an ashtray and (in the sedan version) curtains on all windows.

A new car with a phaeton body cost 4,800 kroons, and a little later the PV4 sedan was introduced, and an additional 1,000 kroons was added to its price. According to the plans, the plant should produce 500 cars of each model, however, contrary to expectations, Swedish buyers did not seek to buy up new cars. Only 297 cars were sold in the first year. One of the reasons for such a small quantity was the requirement for a very high level of quality of the supplied components and its strict control by the manufacturer.
The PV4's top speed was quite decent - 90 km / h
A year later, a new model is presented - this is the Volvo Special, an extended version of the PV4 sedan. The Volvo Special featured a longer bonnet, slender A-pillars and a rectangular rear window. This car was already fitted with bumpers. At this time, bumpers had not yet become standard vehicle equipment.
Only two years later, the company was able to make its first modest profits. In 1929, Volvo sold 1,383 vehicles. However, in the late 1920s. the car made a real breakthrough, both in the European market and in America.
During his several years at SKF, Assar Gabrielsson noted that Swedish ball bearings were inexpensive compared to international prices, and the idea of creating a production of Swedish cars that could compete with American cars grew stronger. Assar Gabrielsson worked with Gustaf Larson for several years at SKF, and the two people, after also working together for several years in the British automotive industry, learned to recognize and respect each other's experience and know-how.
Gustaf Larson also had plans to create his own Swedish automobile industry. Their similar views and goals led to collaboration after the first few chance encounters in 1924. As a result, they decided to found a Swedish car company. While Gustaf Larson hired young mechanics to assemble cars, Assar Gabrielsson studied the economic background for their vision. In the summer of 1925, Assar Gabrielsson was forced to use his own savings to fund a trial series of 10 passenger cars.
The vehicles were assembled at Galco's Stockholm plant with the involvement of SKF, which had a capital stake of SEK 200,000 in Volvo, and SKF also made Volvo a controlled but growth-oriented automobile company.
All work was relocated to Gothenburg and neighboring Hisingen, and SKF equipment was eventually relocated to Volvo's production site. Assar Gabrielsson identified 4 basic criteria that contribute to the successful development of a Swedish car company: Sweden was a developed industrial country; low wages in Sweden; Swedish steel had a solid reputation around the world; there was a clear need for passenger cars on Swedish roads.
Gabrielsson and Larson's decision to start manufacturing passenger cars in Sweden was clearly articulated and based on several business concepts:
- Production of Volvo passenger cars. Volvo will be responsible for both machine design and assembly work, and materials and components will be purchased from other companies;
- Strategically secure with major subcontractors. Volvo must find reliable support and, if necessary, partners in the field of rail transport;
- Concentration on export. Export sales began a year after the start of the conveyor production;
- Attention to quality.
Neither effort nor expense can be spared in the car building process. It's cheaper to get production right in the beginning than to allow mistakes and fix them at the end. This is one of the main tenets of Assar Gabrielsson. If Assar Gabrielsson was astute in business, then the brilliant financier and merchant Gustaf Larson was a genius in mechanical engineering. Together, Gabrielsson and Larson controlled Volvo's two main areas of business - the economy and mechanical engineering. The efforts of two people were based on determination and discipline - two qualities that were often the key to the success of business in industry during the first half of the 20th century. This was their common approach, which laid the foundation for Volvo's first and most important value - quality.

Volvo name
SKF acted as a serious guarantor of the production of the first thousand cars: 500 with a convertible top and 500 with a rigid. Since one of the main activities of SKF was the production of bearings, the name Volvo was proposed for the cars, which means "I roll" in Latin. Thus, 1927 was the year Volvo was born.
A symbol was needed to characterize his child. They have chosen steel and Swedish heavy industry since cars were made from Swedish steel. The "iron symbol" or "the symbol of Mars" as it was named after the Roman god of war, was placed in the center of the radiator grille on the first passenger passenger car Volvo, and later on all Volvo trucks. The "sign of Mars" was tightly attached to the radiator using the simplest method: a steel rim was attached diagonally across the radiator grill. As a result, the diagonal stripe has become a reliable and well-known symbol of Volvo and its products, in fact one of the strongest brands in the automotive industry.

When the Volvo P1800 sports car was 50 years old, the Swedish automaker decided to "modernize" the car. True, only on paper - no one is going to launch mass production of the modernized version of the model, drawn by Volvo's chief designer Christopher Benjamin.

At the same time, some experts note that such a car could well find its buyer. Commercial success would be based on the glory of the original P1800 sports car, which was considered the most attractive Volvo in the history of the Swedish brand. The exterior of the Volvo P1800 coupe in 1957 was created by designer Pelle Pettersson, who at that time worked in the Italian studio Pietro Frua. At first, the Swedes were going to start production of this model at the German enterprise Karmann, owned by the Volkswagen concern, but disagreements that arose during the negotiations led to the need to find another partner. As a result, the serial production of the car was only started in 1961, while cars were assembled in the UK at the Jensen plant.

The first Volvo P1800s were powered by a 100 horsepower gasoline engine, but in 1966 it was replaced by a 115 horsepower unit. In addition to the coupe, the car could be ordered as a "convertible" and "station wagon". The total circulation of P1800 for 13 years was 37.5 thousand copies.

In parallel, Volvo begins to produce its first trucks, which were based on the same "Jacob".
So, starting from the 30s of the twentieth century, Volvo presents all the new introductions to mechanical engineering. A new six-cylinder engine was invented, tested and put into production, brake pads are installed on all 4 wheels, interior noise insulation, a muffler is installed, a radiator grill appears - and after all these innovations, the power of the car does not drop in any way! Unsurprisingly, the company is weathering the global economic crisis. Before World War II, Volvo delights its customers with an aerodynamic body.
The 40s passed under the sign of the World War. But Volvo does not lose ground, but on the contrary - it keeps afloat, invents new innovations. Having survived the war and finished the production of car modifications for military needs, Volvo returns to the production of civilian cars. The PV444 model, after all the modifications, conquers the market. The company is increasing its production and, consequently, the export of cars.

In the 50s, Volvo places great emphasis on safety. Brakes and seat belts are being improved. A special committee is being set up to study various accidents.
In 60 - 70 years. the company enters into agreements with DAF and Renault, which increase the productivity and power of vehicles. New modifications and models are being released - Amazone, models 240 and 345. In the 80s, the production of cars per year reaches the 400 thousandth mark! It should not be forgotten that the company continues to be concerned about safety, as evidenced by numerous awards for the modification of the seat belt - the world's first three-point belt that improves safety by 50%.
The 90s brought success to the company again. We have established relations with the French company Renault in the field of production of cars, trucks and buses; a lucrative agreement was signed with Mitsubishi and the Dutch government to create a new brand. But the main fact of this decade is the release of the 960, which was equipped with an automatic transmission. The new car has been modified with the help of Japanese colleagues from Mitsubishi and has a nice design.
At the moment, the Volvo brand is a safety brand. Popular models such as S40, S60, S80, V70, XC70, XC90 drive along the streets. Cars are chosen for comfort, safety and reliability. Every year the brand pleases with novelties and innovations, both in the field of security and the field of reliability of robots of the car. And besides this, Volvo produces reliable motors for boats and ships.
Now let's take a look at the history of Volvo in chronological order:
1924 - the idea of creating the first machine-building plant in Sweden.
1927 - after three years of preparation, the first car of the Volvo brand, OV4 "Jakob", is released, 300 cars are assembled.
1937 - release of new similar models - PV51 and PV52, 1800 cars were produced.
1940s - modernization of vehicles for military needs, then workers' strike, lack of materials. Design and assembly of PV444, an average of 3000 cars are produced per year.
1953 - the release of a new family car - the Volvo Duett.
1954 - an unprecedented step by the company - a 5-year warranty is issued for a car! The first Volvo sports car is produced, which never became fashionable.
1956 - The Amazon brand is released.
1958 - the export of Volvo cars reaches 100 thousand.
1959 - an event occurred that later made Volvo considered the safest car - the three-point seat belt was invented.
1960-1966 - presented the new cars Volvo 1800 and Volvo P 144, which were rightfully considered the safest cars in the world.
1967 - the child seat was modernized, now it can be placed against the movement.
1974 - the Volvo 240 was launched, which included all types of safety that existed at that time.
1976-1982 - the company produces Volvo 343 and Volvo 760, which conquer the market, Volvo is famous all over the world.
1985 - the first car with front-wheel drive appears - the sports car Volvo 480 ES.
1990-1991 - Side impact protection developed and installed on the Volvo 850. The production of the Volvo 960 model, which had a 6-cylinder engine and a power of 240 hp, was launched.
1995 - the release of the famous cars Volvo S40 and V40.
1996 - Volvo now delights its customers with the excellent Volvo C70.
1998 - The Volvo S80 is released not only as a comfortable car, but also one of the safest cars in the world, thanks to its lash protection.
1999 - Volvo buys out Ford, which still owns to this day.
2000 - such "giants" of the car market as Volvo V70 and Volvo S60 come out. Volvo is recognized as the safest car in the world.
2002 - The year of great changes in the products of the Volvo company. The first XC90 SUV was announced, the s40 and s80 models were restyled. Volvo has already stepped firmly into the super-performance market with the S60R and V70R models. The company's design studio has been developing its own SUV for some time now. All leading European manufacturers, even Posrsche, have prepared or started to produce their parquet "jeeps". And finally, in August 2002, mass production of the XC90 model was started.
2003 - At the Geneva Motor Show, Volvo unveiled its next concept car from the Volvo Designers Vision of the Future series. VCC (Versability Concept Car) The Swedish Volvo lineup has been expanded with another four-wheel drive vehicle - following the Volvo S60 and V70, the company's flagship sedan, the Volvo S80, has also received all-wheel drive. This vehicle uses a system similar to that of the Volvo S60.
2004 - The appearance of the long-awaited new products of the Swedish company: cars Volvo S40 and Volvo V50. The new Volvo S40 is 50 mm shorter than its predecessor, but despite this, Volvo offers the features and qualities of the larger Volvo models.

Volvo was founded in 1915 in the Swiss city of Gothenburg as a subsidiary of SKF, a bearing manufacturer. It was founded by former college classmates Assar Gabrielson, an employee of SKF and Gustav Larson. The idea to go into the car business came to young engineers in a restaurant, for beer and crayfish. After some time, SKF management approved their idea and allocated funds for the development and production of the first cars.

The name Volvo is derived from the Latin verb volvete, which means "I roll." The Volvo emblem is a symbol of iron and the god of war, Mars, who fought exclusively with iron weapons. The associations that this emblem should give birth to are reliability and durability.

In 1927, the first Volvo car appeared - a phaeton with an open top and a four-cylinder engine. It was called OV4, and also had an unofficial name - Jacob. It was not just the first Volvo car - it was the first car made in Sweden. The Volvo Jacob had a powerful beech and ash chassis and suspension seats, which were rare in cars from the 1930s. Engine power 28 HP could accelerate the car up to 90 km / h.

In 1928, Volvo released its first sedan - PV4, and two years later - its modification PV651, with a six-cylinder engine with a capacity of 55 liters. With. This model was used as a taxi in Sweden. In the same year, the first Volvo Type 1 truck rolled off the assembly line.

At the Stockholm Motor Show in 1944, Volvo unveiled the PV444. This passenger car became the “people's car” in Sweden due to its high quality and low cost. It was originally planned to assemble 8000 cars, however, due to the high demand, Volvo produced 200,000 cars. At the same exhibition, the company's first bus, the PV60, with a diesel engine was presented.

In 1951 Volvo switches to assembly line production. In the same year, the first Volvo Duete family car was released.

In the 1980s, the company began producing a new generation of cars. They featured a modern design and more powerful engines, which were refined to reduce fuel consumption. The main model of the 1980s was the 760 sedan, which was powered by six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. It accelerated to 100 km / h in 13 seconds.

Today Volvo is owned by the Chinese concern Geely, which bought it from Ford in 2010 for $ 1.8 billion. However, Volvo's headquarters remained in Gothenburg.

TechnologiesVolvo

Throughout its history, Volvo has focused on advancing safety technology.

The Swedish manufacturer was the first to equip its cars with three-point seat belts, laminated triplex windshields and lambda probes - sensors that help reduce emissions.

In the 1970s, Volvo developed the world's first child restraint system - a booster cushion and a special rear-facing child seat.

Much earlier than other companies, Volvo began to use its own innovative safety solutions on its cars - for example, the City Safety system, which prevents collisions at low speeds.

Volvoin motorsport

Since 2007, the team has been taking part in the World Touring Car Championship among touring cars. Best achievement - 11th place overall in 2011.

From time to time Volvo exhibits its cars at the famous rally - the Dakar marathon. In 1983, the team won the compact truck class.

In addition, the Volvo concern participates in the European Truck Racing Championship. Cars under the Renault brand, which are produced at Volvo factories, won in 2010 and 2011.

Interesting Facts

Volvo is the first company in the world to set up its own dedicated crash investigation team. Based on the data from this unit, new safety systems for Swedish cars are being developed.

Volvo P1800, assembled in 1966, entered the Guinness Book of Records as the car with the highest mileage. It amounted to 4,200,000 km.

King Carl Gustav of Sweden drives a small hatchback on the roads.

Volvoin Russia

The history of Volvo in Russia began in 1973, when the state-owned company Sovtransavto purchased Swedish trucks for international transport. The brand's representative office was opened in Russia in 1994. The V40 KOMBI models were especially popular in the 90s. In the 2000s, S-series sedans were the running models in Russia. Swedish cars have become popular among Russian motorists due to their classic design, high quality and reliability. These factors even influenced the formation of such a concept among motorists as Volvo as a driver. This was the name of a leisurely motorist who observes the rules of the road, who values comfort and safety.

The machines were well suited for operation in the difficult weather conditions of the country. In addition, their success was ensured by their low cost in comparison with cars of competing brands.

Today, a large selection of Volvo cars is presented on the Russian market: the C70 coupe with a hard folding roof, sedans and, station wagons V60 and V80, as well as all-wheel drive crossovers XC60, XC70, etc. Over the past six years, Russians have been buying about 20,000 Swedish cars a year. The most popular model is the XC90. Sales of this crossover account for about 30% of all models presented today.

The company has a small truck assembly plant in Zelenograd. In addition, in 2009, a Volvo Trucks plant was opened in the Kaluga Region, which produces up to fifteen thousand trucks a year. Volvo does not plan to open factories for the production of passenger cars in Russia yet.

Volvo Personvagnar AB is a Swedish car manufacturer specializing in the production of passenger cars and crossovers. Since 2010, it has been a subsidiary of the Chinese company Geely Automobile (holding Zhejiang Geely). The headquarters is located in Gothenburg (Sweden). Interestingly, the very word Volvo in Latin means "I roll."

Assar Gabrielson and Gustav Larson were at the origin of the founding of the Swedish car manufacturer. A chance encounter with college classmates in 1924 led to the formation of an automobile company under the wing of bearing manufacturer SKF.

The first Volvo ÖV4 (Jacob) drove out of the factory gates on the island of Hisingen in Gothenburg in April 1927. The car had an open top of the phaeton type, was equipped with a gasoline four-cylinder engine (28 hp) and could accelerate to 90 km / h. This was followed by the new Volvo PV4 sedan, and a year later the Volvo Special - an extended version of the sedan. In the first year, only 297 cars were sold, but in 1929, already 1383 Volvo cars found their buyers.

Even the first cars of the Swedish company were distinguished by progressive technical stuffing and rich interior equipment. Suspended leather seats, wooden front panel, ashtray, curtains on the windows, and all this at the end of the 20s of the last century.

The company develops and produces reliable cars, and its main strong point is safe cars. Let's note the brightest and most significant models for the Swedish manufacturer:
The PV650 was assembled in the years 1929-1937.
Volvo TR670 from 1930 to 1937.
PV 36 Carioca - 1935-1938.

The Volvo PV800 series was nicknamed "the pig" and was very popular with Swedish taxi drivers, produced from 1938 to 1958.
PV60 - 1946-1950.

The Volvo PV444 / 544, Sweden's first monocoque car, rolled off the assembly line between 1943 and 1966.
The Duett station wagon was produced from 1953 to 1969.
A unique and rare roadster P1900, only 58 cars were produced in 1956-1957 (according to some sources, 68).
The Volvo Amazon was produced in three body styles: coupe, sedan and station wagon from 1956 to 1970. The car was the first in the world to be equipped with front three-point seat belts.
The P1800 is one of the most beautiful sports coupes from Volvo, produced from 1961 to 1973.
Volvo 66 is a compact hatchback, produced in 1975-1980.

The 140 Series cars, produced from 1966 to 1974, open the modern history of the Swedish company Volvo.
The four-door sedan Volvo 164 represented Sweden in the luxury executive car segment from 1968 to 1975.
The next new Volvo cars in the form of 200 series cars won the love of motorists on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean due to their reliability and safety, cars were produced from 1974 to 1993 and were sold in more than 2.8 million copies. In Europe and North America, you can still find these models in fairly good condition.
The 300 Series are compact sedans and hatchbacks, produced from 1976 to 1991. They were replaced in 1987 by the Volvo 440 (hatchback) and 460 (sedan) models, production ceased in 1997.

One of the most striking and memorable cars in the history of the Volvo company was the three-door hatchback Volvo 480, produced from 1986 to 1995. The car was the first Volvo with front-wheel drive and the only one in the production line with retractable headlights.
The 700 series midsize sedans and station wagons were produced from 1982 to 1992. The cars sold around the world with a circulation of 1430 thousand units.
The 700 series was replaced in 1990 by the 900 series sedans. Cars were produced until 1998 and were able to repeat the result of the previous series of 1,430,000 cars sold.
The Volvo 850 sedans and station wagons appeared in the company's lineup in 1992. More than 1,360,000 vehicles were sold in over five years, production of the model was discontinued in 1997.

In the 21st century, the Scandinavian company offers a wide range of models. For each body type, Volvo offers its own letter designation: S - sedan, V - station wagon, C - coupe or convertible, XC - crossover.
The Swedish company Volvo is a leader in the global automotive industry in terms of the implementation of security systems used in passenger cars. Cars originally from Sweden are rightfully considered one of the safest in the global automotive market.
Volvo's auto assembly plants are scattered around the world, ranging from the main factories at Torslanda and Uddevalla (Sweden) to ancillary plants in Ghent (Belgium), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Chongqing (China).

The lineup in Russia is represented by Volvo С70, Volvo XC70, Volvo S80, Volvo XC90.

In 1924, in the Stockholm restaurant Sturehof on July 25 - the day which is called Jacob's day in the Swedish calendar - Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson decided to create a Volvo.

Let's find out the history of this brand in more detail ...

1927 Volvo OV4 "The Jakob"

Created by Volvo

After graduating from the Royal Institute of Technology, Gustaf Larson worked for SKF as a manager and chief engineer of the company's transmission department in Gothenburg and Katrinholm from 1917 to 1920. He worked as a plant manager and later as a technical director and executive vice president of Nya AB Gaico with 1920-1926 Collaborated with Assar Gabrielsson to build Volvo. From 1926 to 1952 - Technical Director and Executive Vice President of Volvo.

Volvo's story began with crayfish

Here is how Gustav Larson describes this meeting, recalling Assar Gabrielson (the article was published in Volvo magazine after Gabrielson's death in 1962): “I accidentally walked by the Sture-hof restaurant. I saw an advertisement for fresh crayfish, and decided to go inside, where saw Gabriel sitting alone in front of a mountain of red crayfish. I joined him and we took crayfish with great appetite. " So they sat at the same table. Gabrielson had an excellent opportunity to revisit his idea. The verbal agreement, which they reached in August 1924, took the form of a formalized document on December 16, 1925.

This document proclaimed the following: "I, Gabrielson, intending to establish a car manufacturing enterprise in Sweden, I make an offer to G. Larson to cooperate with me as an engineer." "I, Larson, accept this offer." Gustav Larson had to design a new car. The remuneration for this work would be between 5,000 and 20,000 Swedish kronor, provided that production reaches an industrial level - at least 100 cars per year by January 1, 1928. If the target level of production is not achieved, Larson agreed not to claim any what payment. The chassis drawings for the new car were ready six months before the signing of this agreement.

On April 14, 1927, the first production car Volvo was born - the birth year of the automotive industry in Sweden. On that day, the gates of the factory on the island of Hisingen, Gothenburg, were thrown open. The first Volvo car drove out of the gate. It was an open-topped phaeton with a four-cylinder engine. Sales manager Hilmer Johansson was driving.

The designer Mass-Olle was guided by American methods when designing it. The car was equipped with a 1.9-liter 4-cylinder engine with side valves. Under the designation "OV-4" it was offered with an open body, the version "PV-4" was a sedan.

The short drive to the place where the press was waiting for the car passed without incident. But the night before was not an easy one for those in charge of assembling the car. The last parts needed for assembly arrived by train from Stockholm the previous evening. The rush that accompanied the assembly of the car made itself felt: when in the morning engineer Eric Karlberg decided to inspect and check the car, it turned out that it could only move backward. The main component in the rear axle gearbox was installed incorrectly. Such a beginning was perceived as a good omen: from that moment on, the movement should have been only in the forward direction.

The car was called simply and uncomplicated - ÖV4 and had the affectionate nickname Jacob (Jacob). The letters ÖV indicated the model was an open-top car, and the number 4 was the number of cylinders in the engine. Volvo Jacob was engineered with an American design, a powerful chassis and independent suspension with long springs at the front and rear. The engine developed a power of 28 hp. at 2000 rpm. The maximum speed of the car was quite decent for that time - 90 km / h.

Initially, Swedish buyers were not eager to buy new cars

The car's four-aperture body was painted dark blue, and the black mudguards stood out against this background. The Jacob open 5-seater had four doors and was constructed from sheet steel with an ash and copper beech frame. The interior was upholstered in leather, the front panel was in wood. Unlike the seats in many other cars, the seats of the first Volvo were sprung. The wheel structure of this car was a removable rim that was mounted on lacquered wood spokes. Minor luxury items in the cabin included a small flower vase, an ashtray and (in the sedan version) curtains on all windows.

The PV4's top speed was quite decent - 90 km / h

A year later, a new model is presented - this is the Volvo Special, an extended version of the PV4 sedan. The Volvo Special featured a longer bonnet, slender A-pillars and a rectangular rear window. This car was already fitted with bumpers. At this time, bumpers had not yet become standard vehicle equipment.

Only two years later, the company was able to make its first modest profits. In 1929, Volvo sold 1,383 vehicles. However, in the late 1920s. the car made a real breakthrough, both in the European market and in America.

During his several years at SKF, Assar Gabrielsson noted that Swedish ball bearings were inexpensive compared to international prices, and the idea of creating a production of Swedish cars that could compete with American cars grew stronger. Assar Gabrielsson worked with Gustaf Larson for several years at SKF, and the two people, after also working together for several years in the British automotive industry, learned to recognize and respect each other's experience and know-how.

Gustaf Larson also had plans to create his own Swedish automobile industry. Their similar views and goals led to collaboration after the first few chance encounters in 1924. As a result, they decided to found a Swedish car company. While Gustaf Larson hired young mechanics to assemble cars, Assar Gabrielsson studied the economic background for their vision. In the summer of 1925, Assar Gabrielsson was forced to use his own savings to fund a trial series of 10 passenger cars.

The vehicles were assembled at Galco's Stockholm plant with the involvement of SKF, which had a capital stake of SEK 200,000 in Volvo, and SKF also made Volvo a controlled but growth-oriented automobile company.

All work was relocated to Gothenburg and neighboring Hisingen, and SKF equipment was eventually relocated to Volvo's production site. Assar Gabrielsson identified 4 basic criteria that contribute to the successful development of a Swedish car company: Sweden was a developed industrial country; low wages in Sweden; Swedish steel had a solid reputation around the world; there was a clear need for passenger cars on Swedish roads.

Gabrielsson and Larson's decision to start manufacturing passenger cars in Sweden was clearly articulated and based on several business concepts:

- Production of Volvo passenger cars. Volvo will be responsible for both machine design and assembly work, and materials and components will be purchased from other companies;
- Strategically secure with major subcontractors. Volvo must find reliable support and, if necessary, partners in the field of rail transport;
- Concentration on export. Export sales began a year after the start of the conveyor production;
- Attention to quality.

Neither effort nor expense can be spared in the car building process. It's cheaper to get production right in the beginning than to allow mistakes and fix them at the end. This is one of the main tenets of Assar Gabrielsson. If Assar Gabrielsson was astute in business, then the brilliant financier and merchant Gustaf Larson was a genius in mechanical engineering. Together, Gabrielsson and Larson controlled Volvo's two main areas of business - the economy and mechanical engineering. The efforts of two people were based on determination and discipline - two qualities that were often the key to the success of business in industry during the first half of the 20th century. This was their common approach, which laid the foundation for Volvo's first and most important value - quality.

Volvo name

SKF acted as a serious guarantor of the production of the first thousand cars: 500 with a convertible top and 500 with a rigid. Since one of the main activities of SKF was the production of bearings, the name Volvo was proposed for the cars, which means "I roll" in Latin. Thus, 1927 was the year Volvo was born.

A symbol was needed to characterize his child. They have chosen steel and Swedish heavy industry since cars were made from Swedish steel. The "iron symbol" or "the symbol of Mars" as it was named after the Roman god of war, was placed in the center of the radiator grille on the first passenger passenger car Volvo, and later on all Volvo trucks. The "sign of Mars" was tightly attached to the radiator using the simplest method: a steel rim was attached diagonally across the radiator grill. As a result, the diagonal stripe has become a reliable and well-known symbol of Volvo and its products, in fact one of the strongest brands in the automotive industry.

In parallel, Volvo begins to produce its first trucks, which were based on the same "Jacob".

So, starting from the 30s of the twentieth century, Volvo presents all the new introductions to mechanical engineering. A new six-cylinder engine was invented, tested and put into production, brake pads are installed on all 4 wheels, interior noise insulation, a muffler is installed, a radiator grill appears - and after all these innovations, the power of the car does not drop in any way! Unsurprisingly, the company is weathering the global economic crisis. Before World War II, Volvo delights its customers with an aerodynamic body.

The 40s passed under the sign of the World War. But Volvo does not lose ground, but on the contrary - it keeps afloat, invents new innovations. Having survived the war and finished the production of car modifications for military needs, Volvo returns to the production of civilian cars. The PV444 model, after all the modifications, conquers the market. The company is increasing its production and, consequently, the export of cars.

In the 50s, Volvo places great emphasis on safety. Brakes and seat belts are being improved. A special committee is being set up to study various accidents.

In 60 - 70 years. the company enters into agreements with DAF and Renault, which increase the productivity and power of vehicles. New modifications and models are being released - Amazone, models 240 and 345. In the 80s, the production of cars per year reaches the 400 thousandth mark! It should not be forgotten that the company continues to be concerned about safety, as evidenced by numerous awards for the modification of the seat belt - the world's first three-point belt that improves safety by 50%.

The 90s brought success to the company again. We have established relations with the French company Renault in the field of production of cars, trucks and buses; a lucrative agreement was signed with Mitsubishi and the Dutch government to create a new brand. But the main fact of this decade is the release of the 960, which was equipped with an automatic transmission. The new car has been modified with the help of Japanese colleagues from Mitsubishi and has a nice design.

At the moment, the Volvo brand is a safety brand. Popular models such as S40, S60, S80, V70, XC70, XC90 drive along the streets. Cars are chosen for comfort, safety and reliability. Every year the brand pleases with novelties and innovations, both in the field of security and the field of reliability of robots of the car. And besides this, Volvo produces reliable motors for boats and ships.

Now let's take a look at the history of Volvo in chronological order:

1924 - the idea of creating the first machine-building plant in Sweden.

1927 - after three years of preparation, the first car of the Volvo brand, OV4 "Jakob", is released, 300 cars are assembled.

1937 - release of new similar models - PV51 and PV52, 1800 cars were produced.

1940s - modernization of vehicles for military needs, then workers' strike, lack of materials. Design and assembly of PV444, an average of 3000 cars are produced per year.

1953 - the release of a new family car - the Volvo Duett.

1954 - an unprecedented step by the company - a 5-year warranty is issued for a car! The first Volvo sports car is produced, which never became fashionable.

1956 - The Amazon brand is released.

1958 - the export of Volvo cars reaches 100 thousand.

1959 - an event occurred that later made Volvo considered the safest car - the three-point seat belt was invented.

1960-1966 - presented the new cars Volvo 1800 and Volvo P 144, which were rightfully considered the safest cars in the world.

1967 - the child seat was modernized, now it can be placed against the movement.

1974 - the Volvo 240 was launched, which included all types of safety that existed at that time.

1976-1982 - the company produces Volvo 343 and Volvo 760, which conquer the market, Volvo is famous all over the world.

1985 - the first car with front-wheel drive appears - the sports car Volvo 480 ES.

1990-1991 - Side impact protection developed and installed on the Volvo 850. The production of the Volvo 960 model, which had a 6-cylinder engine and a power of 240 hp, was launched.

1995 - the release of the famous cars Volvo S40 and V40.

1996 - Volvo now delights its customers with the excellent Volvo C70.

1998 - the release of the Volvo S80 is not only a comfortable car, but also one of the safest cars in the world, thanks to its lash protection.

1999 - Volvo buys out Ford, which still owns to this day.

2002 - The year of great changes in the products of the Volvo company. The first XC90 SUV was announced, the s40 and s80 models were restyled. Volvo has already stepped firmly into the super-performance market with the S60R and V70R models. The company's design studio has been developing its own SUV for some time now. All leading European manufacturers, even Posrsche, have prepared or started to produce their parquet "jeeps". And finally, in August 2002, mass production of the XC90 model was started.

2003 - At the Geneva Motor Show, Volvo unveiled its next concept car from the Volvo Designers Vision of the Future series. Concept car VCC (Versability Concept Car).
The model range of the Swedish company Volvo has expanded with another four-wheel drive car - after the Volvo S60 and V70, the company's flagship, the Volvo S80 sedan, also received all-wheel drive. This vehicle uses a system similar to that of the Volvo S60.

2004 - The appearance of the long-awaited new products of the Swedish company: cars Volvo S40 and Volvo V50. The new Volvo S40 is 50 mm shorter than its predecessor, but despite this, Volvo offers the features and qualities of the larger Volvo models.

2005 - Japanese company Yamaha released the first engine for the new Volvo XC90 V8.

2007 - Volvo's anniversary year kicked off with the Detroit Motor Show, presenting the new XC60 concept. Looking back and looking at the characteristic features of the cars that the company has produced over the past decades, the new car is hardly recognizable as a Volvo. The XC60 concept model is a striking crossover. The design of the vehicle features unusual solutions that give the XC60 a unique appearance. In the same year, Volvo launches new versions of its flagship models, the V70 and XC70, which debuted at the Geneva Motor Show.

Well, about modern models, you probably all know from advertising articles in the media.

sources
http://www.tneo.ru
http://www.swedmobil.ru
http://avtomarket.ru
http://volvo.infocar.com.ua
http://www.volvoclub.ru

Do you know where Volvo is made? The country of origin of this car deserves all praise. It is produced in Sweden. The car is produced by the Swedish concern Aktiebolaget Volvo. The concern deals with commercial and engines and various equipment. Previously, it was possible to purchase passenger cars from the Volvo concern. Unfortunately, the cars were sold to the branch of the Ford concern, called Volvo Personvagnar. In turn, Ford transferred it to Geely.

The headquarters of the concern is located in the Swedish city of Gothenburg. From Latin "volvo" translates as "I roll" or "I spin".

history of the company

The company was founded by Assar Gabrielson and Gustaf Larson in 1915. In fact, it was a subsidiary of the popular SKF bearing manufacturer. The first production car Jakob OV 4 left the factory gates on April 14, 1927. She had a 28 horsepower engine and a top speed of 90 km / h.

The country of origin of the Volvo car is beautiful! Who becomes the president of the concern in 1956? Of course, Gunnar Ingellau! He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and Economics. During his work, the company flourishes. Exports to the United States start in 1956. In the United States in 1957, 5000 Volvo cars were sold. The volume of car production is increasing. In 1956, 31,000 items were produced, and in 1971, 205,000 items were produced.

The country of origin "Volvo" has a temperate climate, mainly thanks to the Gulf Stream. It is very pleasant to work here. It should be added that Nils Ivar Bolin also worked tirelessly at Volvo. He is the author of the three-point seat belt. For the first time in the world, the Volvo PV 444 and P120 Amazon brands have been equipped with this element.

The Р1800 model is made in the form of a two-seater sports coupe. It was released in 1960. And the production of the Volvo 144 began in 1966. It was this model that was equipped with a dual-circuit brake working system. And it was here that the deformable zones of the body were installed. This is an amazing Volvo! Which country of manufacture is capable of inventing such a candy? Of course, only Sweden.

In 1976, Volvo's creators developed the Lambda Sond oxygen sensors. In the same year, waste gas was created.

The Volvo Personvagnar passenger car division was sold to Ford in 1999. The concern was able to sell the division for $ 6.45 billion. Volvo Personvagnar AB is known in the USA as Volvo Cars. And since 1999 this branch has been transformed into a division of the Ford concern. But in December 2009, Ford announces the sale of Volvo Personvagnar AB to China's Zhejiang Geely Automobile. The branch is now worth $ 1.8 billion. On March 29, 2010, the Chinese enterprise officially signs the documents. These are the papers for the acquisition of the Volvo Cars brand from the Ford Motor company. The deal was completed on August 2, 2010.

Management and owners

Why does everyone choose Volvo? The country of origin knows the answer to this question. To do this, you need to find out who is the largest shareholder of AB Volvo concern? Of course, the Chinese concern Geely. Until 2010, Renault S.A. owned about 20% of the company's shares. She was then the largest owner. In 2012, these shares were acquired by the Chinese concern Geely.

Louis Schweitzer is chairman of the board of directors of this magnificent organization. And Leif Johansson holds the positions of executive director and president at the same time.

Organization's activities

At the moment, the concern "Volvo" supplies trucks to the Swedes. In addition to trucks, the company supplies construction equipment, buses, marine engine systems, financial services and space components.

In general, the Volvo brand is owned by the Geely holding. The Volvo concern also manages the brands:

Renault Trucks.
Nissan Diesel.
Mack.
Prevost.
Nova Bus.

The holding consists of nine manufacturing companies and eleven business units.

Volvo in Russia

The official sale of Volvo cars in the USSR started in 1989. It should be noted that the much-needed Sovtransavto has been purchased since 1973.

Brand "Volvo" ... The country of origin is located in Northern Europe, in the center of civilization. At present, the concern "Volvo" in Russia is represented by the companies CJSC "Volvo Vostok" and LLC "VFS Vostok".

Volvo has built a new plant in Kaluga. The launch of this production took place on January 19, 2009. The production capacity of this plant is very high. It is 15,000 trucks per year. It is planned to install Volvo FM and models here. This is the first full-scale production of commercial trucks of a foreign brand in the Russian state. A little later, the Volvo Truck Center-Kaluga was built on the Volvo factory site. This center became operational in the summer of 2009. Volvo Holding has adopted a complex transport solution. Manufacturing, sales and service are now done in one place.

Corporation

Consider one of the industrial companies owned by the Volvo concern. The manufacturing country Sweden is proud of its brainchild, its automobile company. Volvo Trucks Corporation ranks among the world's top heavy truck manufacturers. This company was founded by Gustaf Larson and Assar Gabrielson in 1916. It is a subsidiary of the popular SKF bearing manufacturer.

The first serial car left the factory gates in 1927. The company gained complete independence from SKF in 1935.

At the beginning of 1928, the first truck appeared. It was named "LV Tier 1" and was an incredible success. A two-liter four-cylinder engine was installed on it. The engine power was 28 horsepower.

Can anyone forget Volvo? The country of origin will, on occasion, remind you of this concern. Indeed, in terms of volume in the world market, it is in second place. In 2006, Volvo Trucks sold 105,519 trucks.

Volvo trucks are considered comfortable and safe. The global international Volvo Trucks Corporation includes industrial and design centers located in the USA, Brazil, Sweden and Belgium. It includes an incredible number of assembly firms around the world. Some businesses present the corporation as a co-founder along with local production groups. Of course, there are organizations directly owned by the Volvo Group.

Renault Trucks in Russia

The first Renault trucks appeared in Russia in 1912. In the Russian Empire, the Ministry of War organized a race, and Renault took part in it.

In 2012, Renault Trucks celebrated its centenary on the Russian market. The company owns its own production workshop at the Kaluga Volvo plant. In 2009, the production of the Premium Route tractor began. Today, the plant assembles heavy trucks of the Premium and Kerax models. At the end of 2014, it is planned to start production of the latest model line of Renault Trucks trucks.

And in June 2013, an unforgettable ceremony was held in the Kaluga Region. The foundation stone of the future plant was laid. The company plans to manufacture cabins for Volvo and Renault trucks.