Volvo

The Volvo Group, or AB Volvo, was founded in 1927 in Sweden, a subsidary of Svenska Kullagerfabriken AB (SKF), a roller ball bearing manufacturer. The Volvo OV 4, a convertible, was the company's first car.

Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson consciously made the decision to develop a car whose brand was safety. Though most safety features found in cars today, such as the 3-point seatbelt, anti-lock brakes, and airbags, were developed by Mercedes-Benz, Volvo develop a reputation as the company with "The" safest cars.

The PV444 established the automaker's foothold in the U.S. automobile market. Other well-known vehicles include the Volvo Amazon, 240, and the C70.

The Volvo Group later expanded into the commercial sector, manufacturing buses, trucks, and other such vehicles. In 1998, Volvo sold its automobile section to Ford Motor Company, which added it to its Premier Automotive Group, or PAG. Currently the group consists of Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo. Aston Martin, which had been a member of the group, was recently sold to a consortium owned by Prodrive while Lincoln was pulled out in 2002.

Volvo continues to expand its range of vehicles. It released the C70, a stylish hardtop, last year. In 2007, the youthful C30 went on sale in the U.S. The marque has also unveiled a new crossover concept, the XC60, at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Volvo is reportedly working on a hybrid diesel version of the C30 which it will put on display sometime in 2007.