Volvo Cars has partnered with type specialists Dalton Maag to develop Centum, a bespoke typeface crafted specifically for the in‑car environment.
The company says the new design aims to help drivers absorb information more quickly, maintain sharper concentration, and experience a calmer, more intuitive interface.
Centum takes its name from Volvo’s upcoming 100‑year milestone in 2027. It will first appear in the new Volvo EX60 before being introduced more broadly across the brand’s model range and digital ecosystems.
Volvo explains that the typeface has been shaped with an obsessive attention to detail, the weight of each stroke, the balance between characters, and the spacing of every letter have all been refined to reduce visual clutter. The result, according to the design team, is a typographic style that supports “clarity without distraction” and reflects the brand’s distinctly Scandinavian approach to restrained, functional design.
Matthew Hall, Volvo’s UX Creative Director, emphasised that typography plays a more vital role in driving than most people realise. He noted that users increasingly desire simpler, more composed interfaces, and that Centum forms part of a wider effort to bring a sense of calm and order to the driver display.
He adds that achieving this requires careful coordination, ensuring each on‑screen element is proportioned, positioned, and timed in a way that guides the driver rather than overwhelms them.
The typeface is engineered for consistency across screens and for readability in every lighting condition. It supports more than 800 languages and has been optimised for quick, glance‑based reading, essential for interfaces used while on the move.
Zeynep Akay, Creative Director at Dalton Maag, explained that designing for a moving environment demands a unique mindset. Centum, she says, has been crafted to remain clear and stable even when the vehicle is travelling at high speeds, offering reliable performance across multiple scripts and driving contexts.
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You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
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The South African automotive industry has gained some breathing space following the latest move by the United States Senate to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA, to the end of 2028.
General Motors (GM) has renewed its joint venture with China's SAIC Motor Corp for another 20 years, enabling the United States (US) automaker to use China as an export hub amid rising competition from Chinese brands in and outside their home market.
Young South African motorists are increasingly opting for more affordable and practical vehicles as the cost of living puts pressure on household budgets, while still maintaining comprehensive insurance cover.
