Volvo

Volvo refers to two related but distinct Swedish automotive entities: Volvo Cars, a manufacturer of passenger cars, and Volvo Group, a multinational heavy-vehicle company. Both trace their origins to the same Swedish company founded in Gothenburg in 1927 as a subsidiary of the ball bearings maker SKF. The name Volvo, Latin for “I roll,” reflected a focus on motion and engineering.

Volvo Cars was established after the separation from SKF; founders were Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson. The first car, the Volvo ÖV 4, rolled off the line in 1927. Over the decades Volvo Cars developed a reputation for safety and quality. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries the company was owned by Ford (1999–2010) and, since 2010, has been majority owned by Geely Automobile Holdings of China, operating as an independent subsidiary.

Volvo Group, originally established as a separate company within Volvo, focused on heavy vehicles. It remains a global manufacturer of trucks, buses, construction equipment, and marine and industrial engines. Its brands include Volvo Trucks, Volvo Buses, Mack Trucks, Renault Trucks, UD Trucks, and Volvo Penta. The Volvo Group is headquartered in Gothenburg and has production and assembly facilities around the world.

Both Volvo Cars and Volvo Group have emphasized safety, engineering quality, and sustainability. Volvo Cars has expanded into electrified powertrains with a Recharge lineup, including fully electric and plug-in hybrid models, and aims to become climate neutral by 2040. The Iron Mark emblem is used as a symbol of strength and is associated with the Volvo brand.