Volvo introduced the three-point safety belt as standard equipment in the 1959 PV544.
Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin developed the modern three-point belt after joining the company from the aviation industry. Volvo fitted the belt to the front seats of the PV544 and the related Amazon model in 1959. The design combined a lap belt with a diagonal upper strap, restraining the torso and pelvis together.
Volvo made the patent available openly rather than keeping it exclusive, allowing other manufacturers to adopt the system. This decision helped the three-point belt become a worldwide safety standard. The PV544 itself was an evolution of Volvo's PV444, and the belt innovation is separate from later developments such as pretensioners, airbags and electronic stability control.