החידה השבועית (החידה עברה הגעלה)

"Volvo" was simple, ingenious and had a very strong symbolic connection to SKF’s entire operation.

Volvere is the infinitive form of the verb "roll" in Latin. Conjugate volvere to its first-person singular form and it becomes volvo or "I roll" in English. It was easy to pronounce in most places around the world and carried minimal risk for spelling errors.

 

Shortly after the start of the Volvo ball bearing operations, the industry came to an abrupt halt with the on-set of World War I. Potential bearing customers had to stop manufacturing cars and begin heavy vehicle production and other war material. The Volvo brand was put in a drawer until August, 1926, when the SKF board agreed to financially support a new car manufacturing operation.

 

At the same time as Volvo was re-emerging, the ancient chemical symbol for iron, a circle with an arrow pointing diagonally upwards to the right, was adopted by the scientific community. The iron badge on the first Volvo vehicle was designed to build on the industry symbolism of steel and strength and create associations with the honoured traditions of Sweden's iron industry. The company's first car, appearing in April of 1927, also had Volvo written in its own typeface within the logo.

 

The logotype was complemented with a diagonal band running across the radiator, from top right to lower left. Though the band was originally there to keep the chrome badge in place, it gradually developed into a decorative symbol and is still found on the grilles of Volvo vehicles today