Volvo receives the world most prestigious award in traffic safety by the US government
The world's most prestigious award in traffic safety - the US Government Special Award of Appreciation - was given to Jan Ivarsson at Volvo Cars.
"This is naturally an immense honor for me, but above all invaluable verification that Volvo is now reinforcing its leading position in car safety," says Jan Ivarsson.
The award was given at the 21st International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles, an event that takes place every two years. The American NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) decides the winner.
The NHTSA is the world's leading authority regarding standards for traffic safety, lending this award added weight and attention.
"I was happy and at the same time surprised when I was notified by the NHTSA that I would be receiving the award. It was a wonderful surprise," says Jan Ivarsson, who today is responsible for strategy and requirement specifications at the car safety department.
He quickly goes on to emphasize how important it is for Volvo Cars to reinforce its leading position in car safety.
"Just a few years ago, we felt that the competition was beginning to catch up with us in the sphere of safety. Many of our competitors have been investing immense resources in new technology and they were closing in with a number of fresh innovations in the area of active safety. However, over the past few years we have demonstrated the sheer extent of the expertise in our company. Our new passive and active safety systems which are now being rolled out to customers are of absolute world class," says Jan Ivarsson.
Roula Beiruty, Marketing Manager of Volvo Cars Middle East said: “We are honored to receive this prestigious award. This award is a precious confirmation that Volvo is appreciated for its contributions in the automotive sector. Moreover, it shows that Volvo are leaders in car safety technology and we will maintain our efforts to stay in that position”.
Volvo is a small car brand in the USA. However, the Americans have immense respect for Volvo's and Sweden's long tradition of car safety - which on many occasions has played a vital role in determining US traffic-safety legislation. Over the years, about ten Volvo employees have received the award since it was first announced.
