Volvo will introduce new seatbelt technology in the upcoming EX60 electric SUV, set to launch in 2026.

The ‘multi-adaptive safety belt’ will use data from interior and exterior sensors to adapt its protection to individual drivers and conditions.

Driver height, weight, body shape and seating position will be among the factors monitored.

The system will also analyse crash characteristics, including speed, direction and passenger posture, adjusting the seatbelts to provide the best protection.

Considering these factors, the seatbelt will then adjust belt load limit settings, which dictate how much force the belt applies to its occupant.

Åsa Haglund, head of Volvo Cars Safety Centre, said: “The world first multi-adaptive safety belt is another milestone for automotive safety and a great example of how we leverage real-time data with the ambition to help save millions of more lives.

“This marks a major upgrade to the modern three-point safety belt, a Volvo invention introduced in 1959, estimated to have saved over a million lives.”

Modern seatbelt typically have three load limit settings, the new Volvo system will have 11.

In a light collision, with a small occupant, lower load settings can be used to reduce the risk of rib fractures, while the system would use a higher load setting for a larger occupant in a serious crash, reducing head injury risk.

Over-the-air updates will allow the adaptive seatbelt technology to be improved over time, as more data is collected by Volvo