Volvo Cars will introduce a new adaptive seat belt system in its upcoming EX60 electric crossover, further developing its legacy in automotive safety innovation.
The Swedish carmaker, owned by Chinaās Geely since 2010, said the new āmulti-adaptive safety beltā will be capable of adjusting to the size and weight of individual occupants, as well as the severity of a crash. The system is designed to provide a higher belt load in serious crashes for larger occupants, while reducing the load for smaller individuals in less severe collisions to minimize injury risk.
Volvo said the technology represents a significant improvement over conventional pretensioners, which have long been standard in most modern vehicles. While traditional pretensioners tighten the belt upon detecting a crash, Volvo’s system incorporates cabin sensors and artificial intelligence to tailor belt tensioning in real time.
AI will also be used to coordinate the new seat belt with other safety systems, including airbags and crash sensors, to optimize protection. The carās onboard systems will evaluate seat positions, occupant profiles, and crash dynamics to respond more precisely. Volvo said future over-the-air updates will refine the system based on real-world performance data.
The introduction of the adaptive safety belt aligns with Volvoās shift toward software-defined vehicles (SDVs), a growing trend in the industry. The company said its connection to Geely allows it to benefit from developments in China, where rapid innovation in SDV technology is underway.
Volvo has not confirmed whether the system will be standard across all future models, but it is expected to be gradually rolled out to other vehicles in its lineup and potentially extended to other brands under the Geely umbrella.