Volvo is a Swedish car company founded on April 14, 1927, in Gothenburg by Assar Gabrielsson and Gustav Larson. Even though the automobile market is extremely competitive, Volvo was able to separate themselves from this atmosphere to create one of the most amazing companies. 

Since single use plastics are disastrous pollutants, that is why Volvo decided to ban them in their company. They claim that by the end of 2019 they will have removed all single-use plastic from their offices, car dealerships and events all over the globe. They will replace over 20 million plastic items such as cups, food containers and cutlery with biodegradable products made of paper, pulp and wood. According to Volvo, “this equates to an estimated saving of 140 tonnes of single-use plastic.” Sadly, not all brands have the same allegiance to the environment. For instance, when someone enters a Mercedes Benz car dealership, they are greeted with a branded Mercedes Benz plastic water bottle. Clearly this brand does not care about the longevity of our planet and is only focused on their sales, unlike Volvo, who is always thinking about the wellbeing of everyone, not only their pocket. 

Volvo has also been a pioneer in car safety since the late 50s. In 1959, Volvo introduced the revolutionary three-point seat belt. Then, in 1962, Volvo patented their invention but decided to donate its rights to humanity and allow other car companies to use it for free. According to Volvo, the seatbelt has saved thousands of lives. Additionally, the rearward-facing child seat, pedestrian detection with full auto brake system, and the blind spot information system are also products of Volvo’s dedication to protecting human lives. They also invented a special paint called “life paint,” an aerosol that is invisible by day and reflective at night, which increases safety for cyclists and pedestrians. Conversely, there are no other car companies that have contributed to safety for people on the roads, in and out of the car, the way Volvo has. Other companies have dedicated their time, money, and energy to seek progress only their companies and cars, not humanity. 

All of Volvo’s cars have three different themes for the information displays in the dashboard, a detail that exhibits the meticulous nature of the company. The three themes: Elegance, Eco, and Performance, change what information is displayed and how it is displayed, making it possible for all their users to personalize their car. Additionally, all their hybrid cars have a handmade crystal stick shift made by “Orrefors”, a luxury crystal manufacturer. On the other hand, according to both Toyota and Volvo-owner Manuel Martinez, Toyotas are more generic than Volvos. “Yes, Toyotas are generally tougher cars but this comes with a hefty price tag, they sacrifice luxury and comfort for a more simplistic and tougher car. This translates to a same price vehicle with far less luxury items and a less intuitive relationship with the car and owner.” It inevitably comes down to what a person is looking for in a car; but, with a similar price tag, it will always be nicer to own a car that makes you feel special. This feeling is achieved with a Volvo. 

From 2021 onwards, Volvo will be limiting the speed on all of its vehicles, and they will only go up to 180 km/h (112 mph). This might not seem like a big deal to people who do not like to speed, or people who live in places like Medellin where there are no roads in which one can accelerate excessively; but, for people who have access to roads such as the Autobahn in Germany, where there is no speed limit, this might be a deal breaker. These kinds of people might consider buying another car such as a Tesla Model S in which they can set their own speed limit up to 155mph. However, Volvo implemented the speed limiter for our safety. In 2018, two 18-year olds passed away after a tragic car crash in their Tesla. Even though the teenagers had set the car’s speed limit to 85mph, they were going at 116mph when they hit the lamppost. Therefore, the self-imposed limit did not work, resulting in tragedy. Volvo has a vision that by 2020 no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car; this is a crucial step  towards that goal. At the end of the day, this restriction is for our own safety and we need to embrace the fact that Volvo’s first priority is our safety. 

A successful company is much more than a company that is lucrative, it is also a company that is socially and environmentally aware. Volvo is both. They are the only car company that truly understands the importance of protecting our environment and the people on the road, both on and off the cars. This is why they stand out in the industry as the best company.