The Volvo grille badge uses the ancient iron symbol.
Volvo’s circular emblem with an arrow rising diagonally is based on the traditional symbol for iron. The mark is also associated with the Roman god Mars because the same symbol was used for both iron and Mars in older European traditions. Volvo selected it to express strength, durability, and the Swedish steel industry, which was an important part of the company’s industrial background.
The diagonal bar across many Volvo grilles is not a separate symbol; it is a mounting element that carries the Volvo nameplate across the circle. Modern versions have refined the typography and three-dimensional finish while retaining the basic circular-and-arrow form.
The badge is sometimes casually called the male or Mars symbol. That description is historically related, but iron is the meaning most directly connected with Volvo’s stated industrial symbolism.