Volvo Cars introduces driver scoring app and expands safety testing

Volvo Cars is expanding its focus on safety through both physical testing and new digital monitoring technologies. The company’s Safety Centre in Gothenburg has conducted over 10,000 full-scale crash tests since its opening in 2000, utilizing real-world accident data collected since 1970 to inform vehicle design and safety systems.

In a digital expansion, Volvo is launching ‘Safety Coach’, an optional application that monitors and scores driver behavior in real time. The app evaluates metrics such as braking, acceleration, cornering, and speeding, providing a score out of 100 via the vehicle’s infotainment system and a mobile app. The goal is to encourage safer driving habits, which may potentially lead to lower insurance rates for participants.

The rollout begins this August in Sweden and Norway, with planned expansions to the United States, Europe, and the United Kingdom. The software is compatible with model year 2020 vehicles and newer equipped with Google-based infotainment systems. While intended to empower drivers, the feature has prompted discussions regarding driver privacy and surveillance.