1989

The 400 series gains a new sedan, the Volvo 460.

The Experimental Safety Vehicle Conference is held in Gothenburg for the first time. Among other things, Volvo presents a side-impact protection system and an integrated child seat.

Nils Bohlin, the man behind the three-point seat belt, is elected to the US Safety and Health Hall of Fame.

In the UK, the Prince Michael Road Safety Award is presented to Volvo for the mechanical seat belt tensioner. Many environmental innovations are introduced: Life-cycle assessment using EPS (Environmental Priority Strategies in product design), technology for alcohol power: the cleanest car ever tested, internal environmental audits are conducted, and plastic materials in Volvo cars marked to facilitate recycling.

Volvo introduces its new, proactive environmental policy.

Volvo demonstrates alcohol power technology: cleanest car tested to date.