How A Ball Bearing Company Rolled Volvo Into Existence 100 Years Ago - Jalopnik

SKF, founded in 1907 as Svenska Kullagerfabriken, grew into the world’s largest bearing maker and one of Sweden’s biggest industrial companies. Its early success was so strong that in 1926 the firm effectively built a new automobile business inside its own corporate structure. From that effort, Volvo—Latin for “I roll”—was created, later spun off as a stand-alone company by 1935. The chain began when SKF sales head Assar Gabrielsson proposed an experimental run of 10 passenger cars using existing SKF parts, even offering to fund it himself. SKF’s board declined, noting the project could test durability and function in the growing market. Volvo was first used for SKF automotive bearings starting around 1915, but World War I slowed production and the brand was later reworked until Gabrielsson revived it for the car company.