Auto
Volvo EX60 Leads with First Adaptive Seatbelt System for EVs
- First adaptive seatbelt system tailored by passenger profile, posture, and crash dynamics—integrating biometric, positional, and environmental data to reduce thoracic injuries by up to 30% in internal tests and simulations
- Combines real-time biometric, environmental, and positional data; scheduled to debut with the EX60 in early 2026 as a standard feature
Volvo has placed renewed focus on occupant protection with the upcoming EX60 EV. At a recent controlled demonstration at the company’s Gothenburg testing facility, the EX60’s headline innovation was revealed—not in performance metrics, but in a redesigned safety restraint system.
This next-generation feature, a multi-adaptive seatbelt, represents a significant shift in how seatbelts interact with passengers. Using biometric data and predictive modelling, it adjusts in real time to suit the individual’s body type and position, as well as the nature of the crash scenario.
Though seatbelt changes often go unnoticed, this one introduces a new benchmark for customisation and integration within modern automotive safety platforms.
From the Three-Point to Eleven Settings
In 1959, Volvo’s engineer Nils Bohlin changed everything with the three-point seatbelt. More than 60 years later, that legacy continues. This time, the innovation is digital.
Unlike traditional belts that work in a binary fashion—either locked or not—Volvo’s system analyses your size, shape, posture, and even crash trajectory to decide how the belt should behave.
Where standard systems offer around three load-limiting profiles, the EX60’s system supports eleven distinct settings.
You sit down; the belt reads your body height, weight, and posture and links that data with real-time vehicle telemetry. A potential side impact at 60 mph? The belt reacts before you even feel the jolt.
It’s part of a broader strategy: Volvo wants zero deaths or serious injuries in a new Volvo by 2030. This seatbelt system is a data-driven piece of that promise.
Inside the EX60’s Nervous System
What makes the adaptive seatbelt stand out is how deeply it’s tied into the EX60’s electronic architecture.
There are pressure sensors embedded under the seat. LIDAR scanners monitor the car’s surroundings. Cameras track your gaze, your blink rate, and your head position. All this data feeds into the car’s central computing system, running on NVIDIA DRIVE, which decides, within milliseconds, how the belt should respond.
For example:
- If a smaller person is seated off-centre, the belt loosens to avoid rib damage.
- If a larger person is braced during an imminent crash, it tightens for maximum control.
According to Volvo, these adjustments reduce thoracic injuries by up to 30%, based on internal simulations and test crash data shared during the EX60 pre-launch.
The key is that the belts don’t just react; they predict. They model the crash before it happens.
Software and Safety Go Hand in Hand
Volvo plans to push improvements to the belt system over the air, much like how Tesla updates its driving software.
As more real-world data rolls in, the belt will get smarter. Volvo says these OTA updates will eventually allow for even more refined personal profiles, possibly linked to your Volvo ID.
Think about it: a seatbelt that remembers you, your family, and your riding style.
What It Feels Like in the Driver’s Seat
During the test ride, I was strapped into a rigged EX60 and driven into a controlled deceleration zone.
The car “saw� the hazard—a simulated cross-traffic vehicle—and braked. I felt the belt gently tighten across my chest, calibrated to my seated position. There was no jarring pull, no sudden lock. Just pressure—measured and firm.
Afterwards, a taller, heavier passenger swapped seats with me. When we repeated the same scenario, the belt reacted differently—tighter, faster, more urgent.
That’s the key difference. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all system. It learns you.
How It Stacks Up Against the Competition
Adaptive restraints aren’t entirely new. Mercedes-Benz has PRE-SAFE. BMW has active belt tensioners. But these systems largely work as all-or-nothing safety nets.
Volvo’s EX60 takes it several steps further:
- It offers 11 profile settings (vs 2�4 in most current systems)
- It integrates biometric and environmental data
- It operates on predictive modelling, not just reactive triggers
During a Euro NCAP panel earlier this year, experts hinted that Volvo’s tech could influence new testing criteria starting in 2026. That’s how impactful this system might be.
Beyond Crash Safety: The Subtler Wins
Here’s what many don’t talk about: everyday driving safety.
Volvo’s belt doesn’t just protect in a crash. It minimises driver fatigue. It senses slouching posture and makes micro-adjustments to promote circulation and back support. It adapts belt tension if it senses prolonged inactivity.
This is part of Volvo’s approach to what they call “passive wellness tech�. Small changes that make long drives healthier and less taxing.
And it’s all done without buzzers, beeps, or alerts. Just a silent, smart adjustment.
Trust Through Transparency
is transparent about how the belt works. Their safety labs in Torslanda opened up crash test footage and simulation data to journalists, researchers, and even regulators.
They’re working with the Swedish Transport Agency to publish anonymised field results starting in 2025.
If you’re a family buyer or a safety-conscious commuter, this kind of openness builds trust.
And that’s becoming a big deal. According to a 2024 Deloitte auto survey, 58% of UK EV buyers say in-vehicle safety tech is their top priority, ahead of battery range and infotainment.
Price and Production Timeline
The EX60, which slots between the XC60 and the upcoming EX90, is set to go on sale in early 2026. Pricing hasn’t been confirmed, but insiders expect it to start around £55,000 in the UK.
The adaptive seatbelt will be standard on all trims.
Volvo isn’t selling it as a luxury extra. It’s safety. It’s for everyone.
Questions You Might Be Asking
Is this overkill?
Maybe if you never get in a crash. But Volvo’s data suggests that even low-speed incidents can cause serious injury, depending on who you are and how you’re seated.
Will other automakers follow?
Almost certainly. Patent filings from Kia and Ford hint at similar systems in development.
Will it make a difference?
If the three-point belt saved over a million lives, this might be the next step toward halving that number again.
The Takeaway
The multi-adaptive seatbelt in the EX60 has been designed to operate seamlessly, blending into the overall driving experience without drawing attention to itself. It functions in the background, providing tailored protection based on real-time analysis without intrusive cues.
This system reflects Volvo’s safety philosophy: technology should perform silently but effectively, ensuring optimal protection during critical moments.
Volvo’s broader objective remains clear—build safety systems that not only save lives but also adapt to individual needs over time, raising the standard for passive safety across the industry.
