Do you dream of owning a Volvo? If yes, we sure hope you don’t have any plans of driving past 180kph. This isn’t just because, well, going past the speed limit isn’t safe—it’s also because the Scandinavian brand no longer sells cars that go past that mark.
“Wait, what’s that supposed to mean?” It means exactly how it sounds. Volvo’s entire lineup now comes with a limited top speed of 180kph. The reason for this? As with all things Volvo, safety.
“We believe that a carmaker has a responsibility to help improve traffic safety,” said Malin Ekholm, head Volvo Cars Safety Center head. “Our speed-limiting technology, and the dialogue that it initiated, fit that thinking. The speed cap and Care Key help people reflect and realize that speeding is dangerous, while also providing extra peace of mind and supporting better driver behavior.”
The Volvo Care Key is a device that allows owners to set even more stringent limitations to their vehicles’ speed. Perfect for, say, parents who often lend family vehicles to their kids.
The brand acknowledges that the decision to limit its cars’ speed is, for many, a controversial one. The reasoning behind it, however, is that a manufacturer’s obligation to save lives outweighs the potential of losing customers. Volvo added that while most western countries have speed limits in place, millions of individuals still get ticketed for speeding violations every year. People also need to take into account intoxication and distraction, as well as in-car safety tech’s inability to prevent fatalities in the even an accident does happen.
Frankly, we think 180kph is still plenty fast. Then again, we’re speaking from Philippine standards here. Do you think Volvo is making the right call in this situation?
