Volvo’s Innovative Safety Belt Recognized as a Top Invention of 2025

The world-first multi-adaptive safety belt, set to debut in Volvo Cars’ soon-to-be-revealed fully electric EX60 SUV, has been recognised as one of the Best Inventions of 2025 by TIME.

Today, TIME revealed its annual list of the Best Inventions, which features 300 extraordinary innovations changing our lives. For the second year in a row, Volvo Cars is honoured to be included on the list for its latest safety innovation.

The new multi-adaptive safety belt is designed to provide even better protection for occupants by adapting to both traffic conditions and the individual wearing it.

“We are proud to be recognised by TIME as a leader in automotive safety,” says Åsa Haglund, head of Volvo Cars Safety Centre. “With the multi-adaptive safety belt in the upcoming EX60, we’re leveraging real-time data to adapt to the situation and the person wearing it – providing smarter, personalised protection that can help reduce injury.”

Leveraging real-time data from the car’s advanced interior and exterior sensors, the system can customise protection by adjusting to the current situation and the unique personal profile of drivers and passengers, such as their height, weight, body shape and seating position.

For example, a larger occupant in a severe crash will receive a higher belt load setting to help reduce the risk of head injury. In comparison, a smaller occupant in a milder crash will receive a lower belt load setting to reduce the risk of rib fractures.

The capabilities of the new multi-adaptive safety belt are designed to improve continuously via over-the-air software updates. As Volvo Cars gathers more insights, the car can improve its understanding of the occupants, new scenarios and response strategies.

This demonstrates how Volvo Cars continues to lead in safety innovation, leveraging insights from real-world data to protect people better. 

Last year, another Volvo Cars safety feature was named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024. The pioneering Driver Understanding System, available in the Volvo EX90 and ES90, utilises real-time sensing technology to help detect if a driver is impaired, tired, or distracted, allowing the car to intervene and provide support if needed.

The new safety belt will be introduced in the upcoming Volvo EX60, which will be revealed to the world on January 21, 2026, during a livestreamed event from Stockholm, Sweden.

To compile this year’s list, TIME solicited nominations from TIME editors and correspondents around the world and through an online application process, paying special attention to growing fields – such as health care, AI, and green energy. TIME then evaluated each contender on several key factors, including originality, efficacy, ambition, and impact.