Volvo’s New Multi-Adaptive Safety Belt Is a Smarter Seat Belt

Volvo invented the three-point seat belt in 1959 — more specifically, Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin, who holds the patent. Now, the brand is making arguably the most significant update to this simple bit of life-saving fabric in more than six decades with its new multi-adaptive safety belt.

Related: Volvo Announces Tech Updates for Full 2026 Lineup

Seat Belts 101

If you’ve ever slammed on your brakes and felt your seat belt tighten and restrict your forward movement, you’ve experienced what is called the pretensioner. Pretensioners remove slack in the seat belt when they sense sudden deceleration. Another component, called a load limiter, steps in during a crash to selectively let out the belt, controlling the force the belt exerts on occupants during a crash and reducing belt-induced injuries.

Volvo’s new multi-adaptive safety belt takes advantage of the advanced computing power in modern automobiles to greatly expand on the belt’s adaptability. Current Volvos rely on three load-limit profiles, but the multi-adaptive belt expands that number to 11. It incorporates data from various vehicle sensors to adapt load-limiter function to individual occupants’ height, weight, body shape and seating position.

Diff’rent Strokes for Diff’rent Folks

Volvo gives two examples of what this looks like in the real world from opposite extremes of the spectrum. With a larger occupant in a high-speed collision, a head injury is the gravest concern. So, the multi-adaptive safety belt’s load limiter holds them more tightly in place, which could lead to minor injuries but improves the likelihood of avoiding the worst-case scenario. With a smaller occupant in a less severe crash, the belt will “give” more, minimizing the risk of belt-related injuries to the torso.

Volvo says the operation of the multi-adaptive belt is based on a database of more than 80,000 occupants involved in collisions, and over-the-air updates will allow the brand to refine its function over time. The new seat belt will debut next year in the all-new 2026 EX60 electric SUV.

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