In 1959, Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin introduced the modern three point seat belt, a simple design that secured both the upper and lower body far more effectively than earlier restraints. Volvo became the first car manufacturer to fit the design as standard in its vehicles, including the PV544 and Amazon. 🚗🛡️
Rather than keeping the technology exclusive, Volvo made Bohlin’s patent available for other manufacturers to use free of charge, prioritising road safety over potential licensing profits. The basic design remains standard in cars around the world today and is estimated to have saved more than a million lives.
