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Useful information about this Swedish brand

The Birth of Volvo

The brand name Volvo was originally registered as a trademark in May 1911 with the intention of being used for a new range of SKF ball bearings. It means "I roll" in Latin. The idea was short-lived and SKF decided to simply use its initials as a trademark for all its bearing products.

In 1924, Assar Gabrielsson, a sales manager at SKF and a KTH Royal Institute of Technology engineer Gustav Larson, the two founders, decided to start building a Swedish car. They planned to build cars that could withstand the country's hard roads and cold temperatures.

AB Volvo began operations on 10 August 1926. After a year of preparations with the production of 10 prototypes, the company was ready to start the car factory within the SKF Group. The Volvo Group itself claims to have started in 1927, when the first car, a Volvo ÖV 4, rolled off the production line at the factory in Hisingen, Gothenburg. Only 280 cars were built that year. The first truck, the "Series 1", debuted in January 1928; it was an immediate success and attracted international attention. In 1930, Volvo sold 639 cars. Truck exports to Europe began soon after; the cars did not become known outside Sweden until after World War II. AB Volvo was floated on the Stockholm Stock Exchange in 1935 and SKF subsequently decided to sell its shares in the company. In 1942, Volvo acquired Swedish precision engineering company Svenska Flygmotor (later renamed Volvo Aero). The company is now largely in Chinese hands.

Database Volvo

The overviews below contain many useful service intervals and tips on the most recent Volvo models. The intervals and guidelines are only an indication, circumstances may occur that cause a garage to give a different recommendation.

When to replace a Volvo timing belt

The timing belt or chain is essential for (almost) any combustion engine, without it there can be no combustion. This is because the timing belt ensures that the camshaft, the crankshaft and the valves are driven by means of this belt or chain. Almost all Volvo's have a timing belt that needs to be replaced periodically. Below per model the intervals known to us:

Volvo car lamps

Want to replace the bulbs on your Volvo but don't know which type of car bulb you need? On this Volvo car bulbs page, we have collected a list containing all lamps.

Volvo lamps overview

Tyre pressure Volvo

Looking for the right tyre pressure for your Volvo? Click on the right model below for an overview of tyre pressures:

Which engine oil Volvo

Changing engine oil on time is crucial for the condition of your engine. In addition, it is important to know which engine oil you need. The service booklet generally always lists the appropriate engine oil. Want to know which engine oil to put in your Volvo? Then click on your model in the following list: