• by Tanya Gazdik , May 4, 2017

Volvo Car USA plans to outfit a fleet of vehicles to chase the sun during this summer’s total solar eclipse. 

For the first time in 99 years, a total solar eclipse will be seen coast-to-coast across the United States on Aug. 21. It won’t happen again until 2024. It is the first total eclipse visible on the U.S. mainland since 1979 and the first viewable from across the country since 1918. Unrelated to Volvo’s plans, a total Web site has been created to educate about the eclipse and advise on the best locations for viewing. 

Although not everyone may be able to look up in the sky and experience the eclipse firsthand, Volvo wants to ensure that people across the country (and the world) have an opportunity to take part in this momentous event through unique, 360-degree and virtual reality (VR) footage.

To kick off the launch of the redesigned XC60, Volvo Cars will use specially outfitted 2018 Volvo XC60s to capture the solar eclipse. The experience will be beamed across the globe via livestream videos and photos.

Volvo’s standard panoramic roof provides the perfect way to view the eclipse, says Bob Jacobs, vice president of marketing, product and communication, Volvo Car USA. 

The automaker will dispatch XC60s to the best vantage points in the country to view, record and share the eclipse. Details on how and where people can view and share the experience will be provided before the event. The activities will be showcased on Volvo’s Twitter and Instagram accounts.