Community DISRUPTOR OF THE YEAR

Industry-reshaping innovations put the focus on safety

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A HOST OF INNOVATIONS IN MATErials, design and product have been brought to market in Volvo's 99 years of existence, perhaps none more important than the three-point safety belt, which was created by engineer Nils Bohlin in 1959.

Instead of keeping the innovation as proprietary, Volvo opened the patent to the world, allowing automakers everywhere to copy the equipment.

In the U.S. alone, nearly 375,000 lives were saved by seat belts from 1975 to 2017, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Globally, it is estimated that millions have been saved.

A new, modern era of safety belt design starts this year when Volvo brings its EX60 to market. It's connected, smart, capable and, perhaps most importantly, is likely to be adopted globally by other brands. The patent is co-owned by Volvo Cars and ZF, the seatbelt manufacturer. Volvo told Newsweek that it is “open to making the technology available to other carmakers in the future.”