Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Safety That Could Pay OffLast year, the average new-car price in the U.S. breached the $50,000 mark, a factor in higher insurance rates. Volvo wants to help its customers manage those costs with a new in-car app called Safety Coach, designed to encourage safer driving.So, how can it help Volvo owners save? Safety Coach provides real-time driving insights and tips based on habits such as braking, acceleration, and cornering. It then gives each driver a personalized score reflecting how safely and predictably they drive. Owners can choose to share that data with a third-party insurer, which could offer usage-based discounts or other rewards based on their driving score.VolvoThe Privacy QuestionHearing how the app works may raise privacy concerns. However, Volvo says Safety Coach was designed "with privacy and transparency at its core." How that plays out remains to be seen, especially considering that legacy automakers such as General Motors and Toyota have faced lawsuits over allegations that customers' driving data was shared with third parties without proper consent.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe automakers allegedly gathered data through connected-vehicle services, which also enable features such as navigation and automatic emergency assistance. According to the allegations, insurers received driving scores that could help them determine whether to increase premiums for drivers deemed risky.What is reassuring about Safety Coach is that it is an optional app dedicated to analyzing driving behavior. Owners must opt in to use it and then provide separate consent before their data can be shared with an affiliated insurer. The app was developed with Cambridge Mobile Telematics, using the company's algorithm to calculate each Safety Coach score.VolvoThe Next Stop Is the U.S.Safety Coach is rolling out in Sweden and Norway first. It will be available for most compatible Volvo vehicles from the 2020 model year onward, including the XC40, EX40, EC40, S60, V60, XC60, EX60, XC90, V90, EX90, and ES90. The app is expected to reach the U.S. soon, although the Swedish automaker has not disclosed a specific launch date or its affiliated American insurers.In the U.S., Volvo offers several electrified SUVs, including mild-hybrid and plug-in-hybrid versions of the XC40, XC60, and XC90. However, the company is discontinuing the EX30 after the 2026 model year amid tariffs and weaker EV demand. The EX40 is also reportedly set to be replaced by a new EX50, an electric crossover expected to be roughly comparable in size to the Ford Mustang Mach-E.VolvoView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Aug 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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