Göteborg, Sweden – Volvo Car Thailand has presented the country’s first and only locally-produced flexible fuel car, the Volvo S80 2.5FT, capable of running on E85 fuel. The car was unveiled to VIPs at the Bangkok Racing Circuit on November 26.

The new model is a key step in Thailand’s development towards a more secure energy future through the promotion and use of less-polluting and renewable biofuels made from homegrown agricultural products. The announcement came in parallel with the efforts of the Ministry of Energy and Bangchak Petroleum to sell E85 commercially.

The two flex-fuel cars, the Volvo S80 2.5 FT and C30 1.8F, officially went on sale following a public debut at the Motor Expo 2008.

“For Volvo, environment has been core value of our brand for decades, and so we have always fully supported the efforts of the Royal Thai Government, and particularly the Ministry of Energy, in advancing renewable biofuels with an aim of energy security for Thailand from the very beginning,” said Paul Stokes, president of Volvo Car Thailand. “Today, Volvo announces yet another milestone in this journey as we will be the first car company to produce E85-compatible FlexiFuel cars locally here in Thailand.”