In celebration of Malaysia’s independence and national day, Volvo presents Makers of Tomorrow: which is this article featuring Volvo cars in classic silhouettes of yesteryear to its ground-breaking pure electric and hybrid cars today. All of these have been proudly manufactured in Malaysia over the past six decades.
By bringing together the past and present, this exhibition on display commemorates Volvo’s 57 years of growing together with generations of Malaysians as it celebrates its 96th global anniversary this year.
Volvo’s Heritage in Malaysian History
Back in the 1960s, when our country was barely a decade into independence, Volvo was among the first automotive manufacturers to answer Malaysia’s call for foreign investment. This resulted in Volvo Cars setting up its first assembly plant in Shah Alam, which is still in operation today.
The Shah Alam plant was inaugurated in 1966, making it Malaysia’s first automotive assembly plant. It is also Volvo’s first assembly plant outside of Sweden.
A year later, the first Volvo 144 assembled in Malaysia rolled off the assembly line and was ready to hit the road.
Volvo and Safety Innovation
Safety, sustainability, and innovations are at the heart of what Volvo does. Since 1927, Volvo have been designing cars that put people first, and it is continuously improving safety for people and the environment.
Three-point safety Belt
Volvo invented the three-point safety belt in 1959 and waived the patent rights so everybody could benefit. To date, it’s estimated that over one million lives have been saved by the three-point safety belt.
First made-in-Malaysia Volvo
In 1967, the Volvo 144 became the first Volvo to be assembled at a plant outside of Sweden, and this huge milestone marked the time when Malaysian drivers benefited from greater accessibility to Swedish style and safety.
Enhanced safety with BLIS
A world-first in passenger cars, the BLIS (Blind Spot Information System), which was introduced in 2003, is a breakthrough safety technology in the automotive world and now a common safety feature for passenger cars.
First locally-made EV in Malaysia
Volvo’s commitment to safety and the environment is stronger than ever. It is the first luxury brand to introduce locally assembled electric vehicles in Malaysia: plug-in hybrids from 2016, and fully-electric vehicles from 2022.
Volvo and Malaysia Today
Having been present in the nation and in the hearts of Malaysians since the 1960s, Volvo is committed to grow alongside Malaysia and embark on a continuous journey to uphold a long tradition of safety and sustainability.
Today, its local plant in Malaysia assembles thousands of cars annually while employing generations of local talent, making it possible for the nation and its people to reap benefits through various job and economic opportunities as well as technology transfers. The brand presence has also grown the nation through our wider ecosystem of dealerships, technicians, after-sales products and services, and related industries.
Malaysia is a regional export hub for the ASEAN region and serves markets such as Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. Volvo Car Malaysia are proud to be the first automotive brand to export all-electric vehicles from Malaysia to other markets.
As a car maker, Volvo is excited to empower Malaysia to embrace an electrified future by offering 100% of its new models as pure electric vehicles by 2030. Volvo has an ambitious goal to be a climate-neutral company by 2040.
Volvo as the Makers of Tomorrow
The future is electric and there’s a Volvo for everyone and every lifestyle. Volvo Car Malaysia offers multiple ways for Malaysians to take their first step towards electrification with its offering of pure electric vehicles and its complete line up of plug-in hybrids
About Volvo Car Malaysia’s Electrified Vehicles
Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric
The Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is Volvo’s first ever full-electric SUV. It is based on the popular compact XC40 and is the first Volvo model to be equipped with a brand-new infotainment system powered by Android.
With the introduction of the Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric, Volvo also introduced one of the safest cars on the road.
The Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is the first locally-assembled pure electric vehicle in Malaysia.
With a range of up to 438km*, the Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric enables confident travel across state lines on a single charge, such as from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka and back.
The Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric has no push start button. Simply sit on the driver’s seat with the key in your pocket, put it in drive, and go.
Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric
The Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric is Volvo’s first electric-only model. Built with edgy design, full electrification and cutting-edge technology, the Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric's aerodynamic design improves its range and acceleration.
The Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric is Volvo Car Malaysia’s second locally- assembled pure electric vehicle in Malaysia and was the first car available for order the Volvo Car Malaysia online sales platform.
Its full electric powertrain produces an output of 408hp and 660Nm of torque, allowing drivers to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds* – making it the quickest Volvo car in Malaysia to date.
With a range of over 450 km* on a single charge, the Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric gives you the confidence to travel across state lines.
Volvo XC60 Recharge
The Volvo XC60 Recharge is a dynamic, midsize plug-in hybrid SUV, with refreshed design details and Google built in. It shares the same powertrain with the XC90 Recharge.
The car is equipped with high-tech safety features and advanced driving assist systems such as the Oncoming Lane Mitigation and Blind Spot Indication System (BLIS).
The Volvo XC60 is Volvo's best-selling car globally and won the 2022 Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.
Owners of Volvo XC60 Recharge can enjoy an intuitive driving experience with Volvo Cars’ latest Google-powered infotainment system.
Drivers can drive the Volvo XC60 Recharge in different drive modes, from Pure Electric mode for emission-free daily commutes, to Hybrid mode for longer distances.
Volvo XC90 Recharge
The Volvo XC90 Recharge was the world's first seven-seater plug-in hybrid car. This seven-seater premium SUV was refreshed in 2019, adding a newly-developed plug-in hybrid powertrain that marked the next step in Volvo’s ambitious electrification strategy.
In 2016, Malaysia became the first country outside Sweden to produce the Volvo XC90 Recharge.
With the safety of child passengers in mind, the Volvo XC90 Recharge is equipped with ISOFIX mounting points for child seats and Integrated Booster Cushion technology.
The Volvo XC90 Recharge is recognised as one of the safest family SUVs, winningthe 2023 Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.
*Figures according to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (“WLTP”) stated are derived from laboratory testing. Factors including but not limited to driving style, road and traffic conditions, environmental influences, vehicle condition and accessories fitted may change these figures. In the real world the range you experience can differ from that stated. These figures stated are meant for comparison purposes.
About Volvo’s Classic Cars on Display at Makers of Tomorrow in Gothenburg
Volvo 144
On 17 August 1966, the Volvo 144 was presented to almost four hundred journalists at the Lorensberg function rooms in central Gothenburg, Sweden. It would then go on to become Volvo’s first million-seller with no fewer than 1.25 million cars produced in eight years, furthering Volvo’s position as an international player.
The Volvo 144 was the first model assembled by the Volvo assembly plant in Malaysia in November 1967. The then Minister of Transport, Sardon Jubir, test-drove this first Malaysian-assembled Volvo the following month.
Volvo 122S
In 1956, a prototype of a new passenger car from Volvo was presented. This model was also known as the Amazon in Sweden and the 121 and 122S on the export market. The designation 122S was used for the version with a more powerful engine.
The styling was modern, and this model was the first car from Volvo with a pontoon body with a very high safety level with features such as a padded upper-half of the dashboard, a laminated windscreen and seatbelt attachments both front and rear.
The Volvo 122 Amazon was the first Volvo car to arrive on Malaysian shores. In the early 1960s, four businessmen from Penang secured the distributorship rights from Volvo in Sweden.
The name “Amazon” had been chosen because of its original meaning – mythical female warriors who were skilled and courageous.
In 1959, the Volvo Amazon and the PV544 became the first cars in the world to feature three-point safety belts in the front seats - a Volvo invention now standard in all modern cars.
In “All the President’s Men”, the movie about the Watergate affair that forced the resignation of Richard Nixon from his presidency, Robert Redford who played Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward drives a white Volvo 122S.
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