Since we opened our doors in 2004, the residents in the greater Chicago area have expressed an admiration of Volvos that's as deep as ours! Offering popular models such as the Volvo XC90 and Volvo S60, all of us at Fields Volvo Northfield love Volvo cars and trucks as much as you do! We also have an appreciation of Volvo's long-standing history of making high quality, safe, reliable vehicles, which makes us even bigger fans of the Volvo brand.
Although Volvo was originally incorporated as part of a Swedish ball bearing manufacturing company in 1915, it's widely accepted that the company's actual beginnings date back to April, 1927, when the first Volvo rolled off of the car manufacturer's production line. From the company's inception, founders Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson sought to create safe cars that were durable enough to sustain the wear-and-tear of being driven on imperfect roads in changeable, if not extreme temperatures. Almost a century later, the company's mission remains unchanged.
While Volvo produced less than 300 Volvo OV4s in its first year, the company's introduction of series-manufactured trucks the following year was a huge success, with Volvo's inaugural truck series selling out in only six months. By 1930, Volvo's Series 3 trucks had become exceptionally popular with the public. Just four years later, the manufacturer's first bus, the B1, was welcomed warmly by a quickly developing niche market.
Given its burgeoning success, Volvo was listed as a public company on Stockholm's stock exchange in 1935. After World War II, Volvo started gaining attention in the United States with its crowd-pleasing models, the PV444 and PV544. Volvo followed up the launch of the Volvo 120 (aka the "Amazon") in 1956 with the introduction of the three-point seat belt, which soon became part of the standard equipment included in each of Volvo's passenger cars.
During the ensuing decades, Volvo continued to introduce new cars, trucks and buses, including the Volvo 340, 400, 850, S80 series and the 2016 Volvo XC90 . In addition to designing new vehicles, Volvo also continued to make innovations in the auto industry. For example, the company worked with the National Swedish Council for Road Safety Research to develop the first rear-facing child seat in 1967. More recently, Volvo created a hybrid solution for buses, trucks and construction equipment which lessened fuel consumption by up to 30 percent in 2008. In 2014, the auto manufacturer introduced the first duel clutch transmission system for heavy vehicles. This system enables heavy vehicles to change gears without interrupting their supply of power.
From its humble beginnings to the current day, Volvo's mission has been to supply durable, safe vehicles that can tackle rough terrain as well as they handle the city streets. Year after year, decade after decade, Volvo has consistently fulfilled its mission and continues to do so to this day. That's why our Fields Volvo Northfield staff enjoy selling Volvo cars so much - we know you can trust the Volvo brand as much as we do!
Whether you're looking for a new Volvo XC90 or a pre-owned Volvo vehicle, we can help you find a vehicle you can rely on! Visit our dealership at 770 Frontage Road today!