Volvo Celebrates its 15 Millionth Car

It's taken 80 years, but Volvo has finally reached a major milestone in its history: the production of its 15 millionth car, a 2008 C70.

Introduced to the world in 1911 as SKF, the Swedish manufacturer began by producing a little-known car called the OV4, so named for the Swedish term for "open car," with the four denoting the number of cylinders. Modestly popular, Volvo's production line grew slowly but surely, churning out a whopping 297 cars in 1929, a pace that would continue in the post-WWII era as the company was decimated by the global economic depression. As a result, it took Volvo 23 years to produce just 100,000 cars (today it takes just three months for Volvo's factories to meet that same figure). By the 70's, that recession has made way for what is still Volvo's most successful car ever: the 200-series. With a production run that spanned almost two decades (1974 to 1993), over 2.8  million 200-series sedans, coupes, and wagons were let loose on the world. By 1993, the classic three-box model the 200-series exemplified had made way for a more friendly and  modern style seen in the current lineup.