"Cars are driven by people. The guiding priniciple everything we make at Volvo therefore is, and must remain, safety."

-- Assar Gabrielsson. A Volvo founder. 1927

Harsh winters, treacherous roads and a hearty people with a deep respect for rugged design, a flair for elegant simplicity and an openness that embraced innovation. By 1927 two partners, Assar Gabrielsson and Gustav Larson harnessed these qualities to build the first Volvo. In the years to come, Volvo advanced the concept of quality transportation as it continued to build cars that embodied innovative design, rugged construction and an endearing functionality that came to define a unique Volvo character.

Today, there are more than 1,200,000 Volvo automobiles on the roads of North America. We're proud of every one of our cars -- and of every year in our ongoing effort to advance the technology, comfort, pleasure and, above all, the safety of driving.