The premium automobiles produced under the Volvo name are Swedish-made. The SKF Financial Group started the firm back in 1927 when it was first established. Since its acquisition by Ford in 1999, the Volvo brand has become one of the most well-known and highly regarded automakers in the world due to the consistently high-quality vehicles it produces.
Volvo Slogan
- For life.
- SAFETY.
- Drive Safely.
The significance and the past
The name “Volvo” derives from the Latin phrase “I roll.” Twelve years before the vehicle manufacturer was founded, it was registered by SKF as a trademark for ball bearings. SKF was the original owner of the name.
The company maintains a very traditional approach to its visual identity, as seen by the fact that it continues to make use of the logo that was designed at the very beginning of Volvo’s tale.
What exactly is a Volvo?
When people think of Swedish excellence, they think of Volvo. This automaker is based in Scandinavia and was founded in 1927. They now produce a broad variety of passenger automobiles, including sedans and all-road cars, as well as commercial vehicles, such as buses and trucks, which are marketed all over the world.
1927 – 1930
The very first Volvo logo was a blue oval with a golden-brown edge and a wordmark put in the middle of it. The word “Volvo” was in the centre of the blue oval. The nameplate had big white letters that were created in a font that was considered conventional for the era. In addition to the wordmark, the logo had the slogan “Gothenburg Sweden” positioned just below the wordmark on a thin white ribbon.
On its own, the tiny silver insignia was affixed to the front grille of the vehicle. It was a celebration of impeccable taste and understated design, and it was both sophisticated and uncomplicated.
1930 – 1959
1940 marks the year when the company creates the foundation for the logo that is still in use today. It is comprised of a Volvo insignia that exudes greater self-assurance along with a wordmark that is positioned on a wide horizontal line that runs through the centre of the circle. The left half of the circle has been “sliced” into three thinner lines that represent motion.
The wordmark is written in full capital letters in a serif typeface and is coloured crimson. The intensity and strength of Volvo are shown in the contrast between the red and silver colours.
1959 – 2020
1958 was the year that saw the birth of the simplest possible emblem. Copper colours are used for the Volvo logo, which also includes the company’s wordmark. The symbol and the lettering have a sleek and contemporary appearance thanks to their clean lines. It is a straightforward graphic identity that stands up very well considering its era.
1959 – 1999
The brand abandons its previous colour scheme in favour of black and silver and continues to play around with the silhouette. During this time, the Volvo insignia is enclosed inside a square that is black on the inside and silver on the outside. The corners have been rounded off, which works well in conjunction with the base of the wordmark having rounded angles.
1999 – 2013
The colour scheme for Volvo cars has been decided upon; it will be silver and royal blue from now on. The blue hue will be used for the rectangular nameplate that will be put inside the silver Volvo insignia.
2013 – 2014
The Volvo badge that was introduced in 2013 was smaller and more lightweight than its predecessor. The silver moulding developed a glossy surface, giving it an appearance that was both more modern and icier. When it comes to the blue banner, it was given a thin silver border, which gave the writing a more exquisite aspect, making them seem finer and more sophisticated than they really were.
2014 – Today
The current Volvo logo is derived from the one that came before it; however, it now has a three-dimensional appearance, and the lines of the typography are cleaner and more certain.
The colour scheme of blue and silver honours the Volvo principles of quality and design, and it conjures up feelings of dependability and timelessness associated with the brand. It also reflects Volvo’s forward-thinking attitude and forward momentum, in addition to the company’s extensive history.
2020 – 2021
The rebranding of Volvo’s visual identity took place in the year 2020, and it resulted in the introduction of a new, more modern logo. This new logo consisted of black writing on a white backdrop. The familiar serif font has thin square serifs, which gives it a unique and assured appearance. The picture is given more air and refinement thanks to the large amount of space between the symbols.
2021 – Today
The Swedish car manufacturer will officially use its recognisable “circle with an arrow” emblem once again in the year 2021. Despite this, the new insignia was designed in the same manner as the old one, including black symbols with sharp, well-defined shapes that were superimposed on a white backdrop. The typography of the logotype was not altered in any way; nevertheless, the writing was shrunk and the space between the letters was tightened so that it could fit within a roundel that had an arrow that was angled diagonally and pointed vertically upward.
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