| "Every year is a road safety year at Volvo." | | | | with contact allergies and are phasing out |
| - that is the tagline of the automaker that | | | | toxic substances such as certain phthalates. |
| conveys inexhaustible commitment to safety. | | | | Volvo's IAQS air quality system has also been |
| Volvo spearheaded significant milestones in | | | | developed to clean the air and reduce the |
| connection with auto safety features. Its | | | | risk of allergic reactions inside the car," |
| record says it all. Since 1927, the automaker | | | | added Kärrberg. |
| has introduced a great number of significant | | | | |
| innovations. | | | | Volvo safety milestones include the safety |
| | | | cage, laminated windscreen, three-point |
| As what Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson, | | | | safety belts in the front, padded dashboard, |
| founders of Volvo, have put it, "Cars are | | | | energy-absorbent bumpers, wide-angle door |
| driven by people - the guiding principle | | | | mirrors, the ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), |
| behind everything we make at Volvo, | | | | high-level brake light, airbags, inflatable |
| therefore, is and must remain - safety." | | | | curtains, SIPS (Side-Impact Protection |
| Earlier, a study was conducted by the Ecology | | | | System), ROPS (Rollover Protection System), |
| Center. The study entitled Toxic at Any | | | | WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System), RSC (Roll |
| Speed: Chemicals in Cars & the Need for Safe | | | | Stability Control), and the IDIS (Intelligent |
| Alternatives delved into measuring toxic | | | | Driver Information System). Volvo is still |
| chemicals in building car interiors. The | | | | working on improving its safety milestones to |
| study includes flame retardant PBDE and | | | | introduce better features in the future. |
| phthalates, used to soften plastics and | | | | |
| textiles at high temperatures. These | | | | Aside from safety, Volvo is also |
| substances are dangerous to the respiratory | | | | concentrating on the production of green |
| system. They could even result to genetic | | | | cars. Lately, it has expanded its range to |
| mutations. | | | | include FlexiFuel cars. These cars are |
| | | | powered by renewable bioethanol fuel. |
| In said study, the Ecology Center compared 11 | | | | "Interest in ethanol as a vehicle fuel is |
| different makes of car built between 2000 and | | | | growing in Europe," said Gerry Keaney, Senior |
| 2005. And it has found out that the interiors | | | | Vice President Market, Sales and Customer |
| of Volvo cars have the lowest emissions of | | | | Service at Volvo Cars. "We are therefore |
| phthalates. The incidence of flame retardant | | | | expanding our range with additional models on |
| PBDE is also lower that other makes. This is | | | | a total of 9 markets. First to get Volvo's |
| the very reason why Volvo is deemed the world | | | | FlexiFuel cars outside Sweden will be |
| leader in interior air quality. | | | | Britain, Ireland, France, Spain, the |
| | | | Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and |
| "In an age when many people suffer from | | | | Norway." He added, "It's very encouraging |
| asthma and allergies, it is only natural for | | | | that the market is expanding and that |
| Volvo Cars to offer its customers a good | | | | political initiatives are being taken." |
| environment even inside the car," said Anders | | | | |
| Kärrberg, the Environmental Director at | | | | In view of this, the automaker is upgrading |
| Volvo Cars. In order to maintain excellent | | | | its auto parts and accessories including |
| interior air quality, the automaker uses | | | | Volvo radiator fan to complement the big |
| state-of-the-art and safe auto materials. | | | | change. The radiator fan is geometrically |
| "The textiles and leather used in our cars | | | | designed to promote optimal circulation and |
| meet stringent Oeko-Tex standard 100, which | | | | accurate balancing. They offer faster cooling |
| ensures that fabrics and hides have been | | | | and improved fuel efficiency to produce more |
| thoroughly tested to check for certain | | | | horsepower. |
| allergy-inducing substances. We also work | | | | |