Volvo Cars introduce typeface designed with safety in mind

Volvo Cars has just done something most people never notice – but drivers feel instantly. In collaboration with world-leading type studio Dalton Maag, they have created a bespoke typeface designed to make reading faster, attention sharper, and the driving experience calmer.

This isn’t just a typeface. It’s a quiet innovation in automotive design. Every curve, every terminal, every spacing decision was engineered to reduce visual noise and let drivers focus on what matters – safety, clarity, simplicity. Think of it as Scandinavian design for your eyes in motion.

“Every detail in our interface is an opportunity to support safer driving. Typography is one of the most powerful, yet underappreciated, tools we have”, said Matthew Hall, UX Creative Director at Volvo Cars.

Made to work across all platforms and driving conditions, the typeface Volvo Centum supports over 800 languages – including complex scripts such as Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, and Korean – with optimized performance for both in-car interfaces and other applications.

“Designing for motion and glance-based reading requires a different mindset. This is typography engineered to perform under pressure, across languages, and at 100 km/h”, said Zeynep Akay, Creative Director at Dalton Maag.

The typeface will make its debut in the upcoming Volvo EX60, with a wider rollout planned across other models and touchpoints. Its name, Centum, is a reference to Volvo Cars' upcoming centennial in 2027, celebrating 100 years since the company was founded.