50th anniversary of the most important lifesaving device in automotive safety: the 3-point seatbelt Invented by Volvo.  This year marks the 50th anniversary of the most important lifesaving device in automotive safety: the 3-point seatbelt. Patented in 1959, the 3-point safety belt has saved more than one million lives and was introduced in the Volvo Amazon (120) and PV 544 in the Nordic markets. Volvo thus became the first car maker in the world to equip its cars with 3-point safety belts as standard. To view Multimedia News Release, go to