GM-owned Swedish luxury car maker Saab has teamed with Spanish biofuels maker Abengoa Bionergia to launch its 9-5 Biopower flex-fuel vehicle in Spain next January, running on E85 fuel, a Saab spokesman told just-auto on Wednesday.
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The announcement came on the heels of a similar accord signed between Ford and Abengoa late last month.
Saab hopes the launch will be a success in Spain, home to many biofuel producers and where the government is expected to introduce legislation to support the use of alternative fuels.
The spokesman said Saab and Abengoa will work to develop a bioethanol refuelling network in Spain. The 9-5 uses ethanol 85 (E85) fuel, made 85% from bioethanol and 15% from petrol.
Abengoa has installed an E85 pump in a Madrid Saab dealership, the spokesman said, adding that the company will host large events to promote the car across Spain.
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By GlobalDataSaab would not provide Spanish sales targets for 9-5 Biopower. However, the spokesman said the car is selling well in Sweden (where the E85 market is much more developed), the UK, France and Italy.
On 28 September, Abengoa said it had signed a deal with Ford to promote Ford’s flex fuel vehicles in Spain and develop a network of bioethanol service stations.
Ivan Castano
