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Fun fact, Volvo created and patented the three point safety belt in use today after years of R&D and testing expenses, but immediately made it free for all othe

Fun fact, Volvo created and patented the three point safety belt in use today after years of R&D and testing expenses, but immediately made it free for all other car makers. I wonder if companies would do that today without heavy incentives. I can’t imagine for example a VC backed company doing that. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brentdykes/2025/01/28/the-data-storytelling-triathlon-three-disciplines-one-goal/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/brentdykes/2025/01/28/the-data-...?

deleted 2y ago
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edanm 2y ago
I mean, a modern example might be the various companies open-sourcing LLMs (e.g. Meta). I don't think "public-mindedness" is exactly the right explanation, it's probably driven by strategic thinking... but then, maybe the same was true of Volvo.
mingusrude 2y ago
In the same vein, at Volvo's factory outside of Gothenburg they have the obligatory museum. It's just that they don't showcase old, famous models. The museum is entirely built around car safety and how Volvo has worked with it. It is interesting with a company that has been so dedicated to their core values for such a long time.
- euroderf 2y ago
  Aren't Volvos the cars that are (or were) so rigid that collision shocks were transmitted rather too directly to passengers ?
  - Sharlin 2y ago
    I think that was a problem with many if not most cars before modern energy-dissipating crumple zones were developed. The front was built rigid to prevent the engine block from entering the cockpit and crushing the driver/passenger (which was a big safety problem at some point) but turns out that too much rigidity wasn't a good idea either…
throwaway2037 2y ago
> I wonder if companies would do that today without heavy incentives. Didn't Tesla give away all of their patents at some point?
- mjevans 2y ago
  Offhand, they made the charging system related patents free to use because a standard charging system is a great thing for any vehicle.
  - WhyNotHugo 2y ago
    Doesn’t this fall under “commoditise your complement”? It’s good business for Tesla to do so.
  - throwaway2037 2y ago
    Dumb question. How exactly do you make something "patent free"? Do you get the patent (so no one else can troll with it), the promise not to enforce "violations"?
fmajid 2y ago
They used to advertise the fact their CEO's wife was a nurse, and she lobbied them to prioritize safety.
- fmajid 2y ago
  Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPgDgNtOouo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPgDgNtOouo Some more background: https://www.volvocars.com/en-ca/news/safety/let-your-head-rest-in-the-safety-of-a-volvo-car/ https://www.volvocars.com/en-ca/news/safety/let-your-head-re...
switch007 2y ago
If SV developed seatbelts: SaaS - seatbelts as a service, available in 3 packages: - Starter: 4 tightenings* per day, $2.99/mo - Standard: 6 tightenings* per day, $5.99/mo - Premium: unlimited** tightenings, $9.99/mo *Once exceeded, belt will remain slack. Check your local laws. We will not be held liable **Subject to a fair usage policy. Policy may change at any time. Please check before driving All plans support a maximum of 2 occupants. Please subscribe to additional plans for more occupants.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

edanm 2y ago

I mean, a modern example might be the various companies open-sourcing LLMs (e.g. Meta). I don't think "public-mindedness" is exactly the right explanation, it's probably driven by strategic thinking... but then, maybe the same was true of Volvo.

mingusrude 2y ago

In the same vein, at Volvo's factory outside of Gothenburg they have the obligatory museum. It's just that they don't showcase old, famous models. The museum is entirely built around car safety and how Volvo has worked with it. It is interesting with a company that has been so dedicated to their core values for such a long time.

euroderf 2y ago
Aren't Volvos the cars that are (or were) so rigid that collision shocks were transmitted rather too directly to passengers ?
- Sharlin 2y ago
  I think that was a problem with many if not most cars before modern energy-dissipating crumple zones were developed. The front was built rigid to prevent the engine block from entering the cockpit and crushing the driver/passenger (which was a big safety problem at some point) but turns out that too much rigidity wasn't a good idea either…

throwaway2037 2y ago

> I wonder if companies would do that today without heavy incentives. Didn't Tesla give away all of their patents at some point?

mjevans 2y ago
Offhand, they made the charging system related patents free to use because a standard charging system is a great thing for any vehicle.
- WhyNotHugo 2y ago
  Doesn’t this fall under “commoditise your complement”? It’s good business for Tesla to do so.
- throwaway2037 2y ago
  Dumb question. How exactly do you make something "patent free"? Do you get the patent (so no one else can troll with it), the promise not to enforce "violations"?

fmajid 2y ago

They used to advertise the fact their CEO's wife was a nurse, and she lobbied them to prioritize safety.

fmajid 2y ago
Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPgDgNtOouo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPgDgNtOouo Some more background: https://www.volvocars.com/en-ca/news/safety/let-your-head-rest-in-the-safety-of-a-volvo-car/ https://www.volvocars.com/en-ca/news/safety/let-your-head-re...

switch007 2y ago

If SV developed seatbelts: SaaS - seatbelts as a service, available in 3 packages: - Starter: 4 tightenings* per day, $2.99/mo - Standard: 6 tightenings* per day, $5.99/mo - Premium: unlimited** tightenings, $9.99/mo *Once exceeded, belt will remain slack. Check your local laws. We will not be held liable **Subject to a fair usage policy. Policy may change at any time. Please check before driving All plans support a maximum of 2 occupants. Please subscribe to additional plans for more occupants.