Volvo has created an 'instantaneously readable' font to enhance driver safety

Volvo has developed its own font for automotive interfaces, focused on maximum readability and reducing driver strain. The new font is called Volvo Centum. It will be used on digital screens across all models of the brand.

What is known

The font was created in collaboration with the typographic design studio Dalton Maag. Its main task is to convey information so that the driver can read messages quickly and effortlessly, even at a glance and in challenging lighting conditions. Volvo emphasizes that the project is directly linked to the safety philosophy, which has been a key principle of the company for almost a hundred years.

According to Volvo Cars' Creative Director for UX, Matthew Hall, Volvo Centum was developed with an emphasis on clarity and intuitiveness. The font simplifies information perception, reduces visual noise, and helps the driver focus on the road rather than the screen.

In creating the font, the team took into account the features of visual perception and cognitive psychology. Attention was paid to character recognition, open intra-letter spaces, and other typographic details that facilitate quick text scanning. Separate efforts were made to reduce cognitive load — how the brain distributes and processes information during movement.

The impact of the font on eye movements, so-called saccades, was also considered. The form of the letters, their combinations, size, and layout of the interface were selected to ensure the eyes move smoothly across the screen, allowing more words to be recognized in one glance. This directly affects reading speed and information comprehension.

The name Volvo Centum refers to the brand's 100th anniversary, which Volvo will celebrate in 2027. The font's debut is scheduled for early 2026 — it will first appear in the new Volvo EX60 crossover.

In addition to functionality, the font carries a visual link to the brand's history. Volvo notes that while working on letter forms, designers were inspired by classic models, including the Volvo 850 of the 1990s. The outlines of the font reflect references to vertical taillights, the diagonal of the three-point seat belt, and the distinctive sense of proportion characteristic of the brand's vehicles.

Source: Dezeen