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Volvo “Ultimate Safety Test” 2022

Volvo “Ultimate Safety Test” (2022) is a Volvo commercial directed by Ivan Zacharias for Grey, produced by Smuggler. It won 4 awards, including Cannes Lions 2021 Film Silver, British Arrows 21/22 Gold — Automotive and British Arrows 21/22 Bronze — Best Up To 30 Second Commercial.

A Volvo engineer questions what the ultimate safety test is, showcasing various extreme car tests, before revealing climate change as the true ultimate safety test.

Video: Volvo Cars on YouTube

Shot by shot

  1. A man with a mustache and a red turtleneck sweater stands in a car crash test facility, speaking to the camera while technicians work on a yellow car in the background.© Volvo0:00
  2. A yellow car crashes into a blue barrier in a crash test facility, with smoke and debris flying as the vehicle crumples on impact.© Volvo0:06
  3. A yellow and grey Volvo SUV undergoes a side-impact crash test, with the side of the car crumpling and glass shattering in a controlled environment.© Volvo0:08
  4. A Volvo car undergoes a side-impact crash test in a dimly lit, high-tech testing facility, with debris flying upon impact.© Volvo0:09
  5. A crash test dummy in a yellow car is seen from the side, as an airbag deploys and then retracts after impact.© Volvo0:10
  6. A man in a red sweater walks past a yellow crash-test car in a brightly lit industrial crash-test facility.© Volvo0:13
  7. A man in a winter coat and hat walks backward down a long, dark industrial hallway, looking over his shoulder at the camera with a mischievous expression.© Volvo0:18
  8. A middle-aged man with a mustache, wearing a brown beanie and a green jacket, looks surprised and then concerned as he turns his head in an exterior setting.© Volvo0:23
  9. An aerial wide shot shows a white Volvo car driving on a snowy road through a vast, snow-covered forest with mountains in the distance under a cloudy sky.© Volvo0:28
  10. A white Volvo car is suspended upside down by yellow straps over a vast, icy landscape with snow-covered mountains and a dark body of water.© Volvo0:31
  11. A man with a mustache, wearing a winter coat and hat, stands next to a car on a snowy cliff overlooking the sea, looking up in surprise.© Volvo0:35
  12. A man in a winter coat and hat stands in front of a snowy landscape, then a glacier calves into the water.© Volvo0:38

Stills © Volvo. Made by Grey, Smuggler and Ivan Zacharias.

Every shot, full-quality frames and clips, and search across every commercial. Free account.

The idea

Climate change is the ultimate safety test, so Volvo is going all-electric.

Tagline: “For everyone's safety Volvocars.com”

expert presenterextreme testsrhetorical questionunexpected twistenvironmental messageproduct demonstration

The cut

Length
60 s
Shots
28
Average shot
2.2 s

What creatives use Volvo “Ultimate Safety Test” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of Volvo “Ultimate Safety Test”? A screenshot from a video player won't hold up in a deck.

    Download any frame of this spot at full quality, with its credits, or search every spot for the same look.

    A man with a mustache and a red turtleneck sweater stands in a car crash test facility, speaking to the camera while technicians work on a yellow car in the background.© VolvoA yellow car crashes into a blue barrier in a crash test facility, with smoke and debris flying as the vehicle crumples on impact.© VolvoA yellow and grey Volvo SUV undergoes a side-impact crash test, with the side of the car crumpling and glass shattering in a controlled environment.© VolvoA Volvo car undergoes a side-impact crash test in a dimly lit, high-tech testing facility, with debris flying upon impact.© Volvo
    Frames from Volvo “Ultimate Safety Test”

  2. 02Shot list example: how it was cut

    You need the structure of a great spot, shot by shot, for your storyboard.

    Every shot of Volvo “Ultimate Safety Test” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    A man with a mustache and a red turtleneck sweater stands in a car crash test facility, speaking to the camera while technicians work on a yellow car in the background.© VolvoA yellow car crashes into a blue barrier in a crash test facility, with smoke and debris flying as the vehicle crumples on impact.© VolvoA yellow and grey Volvo SUV undergoes a side-impact crash test, with the side of the car crumpling and glass shattering in a controlled environment.© VolvoA Volvo car undergoes a side-impact crash test in a dimly lit, high-tech testing facility, with debris flying upon impact.© VolvoA crash test dummy in a yellow car is seen from the side, as an airbag deploys and then retracts after impact.© VolvoA man in a red sweater walks past a yellow crash-test car in a brightly lit industrial crash-test facility.© Volvo
    Length: 60 s · Shots: 28 · Average shot: 2.2 s

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a expert presenter

    Before you present an idea, you need to know who has done it, and how.

    Volvo “Ultimate Safety Test” is built on a expert presenter. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    Barbeador Philips Aquatouch “Pirañas”© Barbeador Philips AquatouchITV “Lets Save Water - 30s”© ITVJohnston & Murphy “Socks and Sandals - 30”© Johnston & MurphyNRMA “Parts”© NRMA
    Barbeador Philips Aquatouch · ITV · Johnston & Murphy · NRMA

More commercials by Ivan Zacharias

  • Apple "Flock" (2024) commercial still© AppleApple “Flock” 2024Dir. Ivan Zacharias · TBWA\Media Arts LabBritish Arrows Gold 2025
  • Upwork "This Is How We Work Now" (2022) commercial still© UpworkUpwork “This Is How We Work Now” 2022Dir. Ivan Zacharias · AltoClio Awards Gold 2023
  • Absolut "The White Russian" (2014) commercial still© AbsolutAbsolut “The White Russian” 2014Dir. Ivan Zacharias · Lucky GeneralsCiclope Gold 2014
  • Achmea "Ambulance" (2008) commercial still© AchmeaAchmea “Ambulance” 2008Dir. Ivan Zacharias · DDBEpica Gold 2007
  • Nike "I Feel Pretty" (2007) commercial still© NikeNike “I Feel Pretty” 2007Dir. Ivan Zacharias · Wieden+KennedyCannes Lions Gold 2007
  • adidas International "Equipo" (2007) commercial still© adidas Internationaladidas International “Equipo” 2007Dir. Ivan Zacharias · 180 Amsterdam (180TBWA)Epica Gold 2006

More from Grey

Award-winning auto commercials

Questions

Who directed the Volvo “Ultimate Safety Test” commercial?

Ivan Zacharias directed it, produced by Smuggler, for the agency Grey.

Which agency made Volvo “Ultimate Safety Test”?

Grey created it for Volvo (2022).

What awards did Volvo “Ultimate Safety Test” win?

4 awards, including Cannes Lions 2021 Film Silver, British Arrows 21/22 Gold — Automotive, British Arrows 21/22 Bronze — Best Up To 30 Second Commercial and Ad Age Best Ads of 2021 #20.

What is the tagline of Volvo “Ultimate Safety Test”?

“For everyone's safety Volvocars.com”

Sources for the credits and awards

britisharrows.comThe WorkThe Workweb.archive.org