Volvo introduced the first production car with a three-point seatbelt as standard. The company put engineer Nils Bohlin’s modern three-point design into production in 1959.
Bohlin had previously worked on aircraft ejection seats before joining Volvo. His belt combined a lap section with a diagonal chest-and-shoulder section, creating a Y-shaped restraint that spreads crash forces across the pelvis, chest, and shoulder. That arrangement was much more protective than a lap belt alone while remaining practical for everyday use.
The Volvo PV 544 is often identified as the first car delivered with the new belt; one was delivered to a dealer in Kristianstad on August 13, 1959. The 1959 Volvo 122 is also cited as the first model to have the three-point belt as a standard item across the model line, which explains occasional differences in wording.
Volvo made Bohlin’s patent available to other manufacturers without charging royalties, prioritizing safety over exclusive commercial advantage. A common mix-up is crediting Saab because Bohlin had worked there earlier, or Mercedes-Benz because it also developed important restraint technology. Those companies did not introduce this production milestone.