Volvo Car Thailand says a fire involving a Volvo XC60 SUV on a motorway did not originate from the battery area, based on an initial examination.
The company issued a response on Friday following the incident the day before in the outbound lane of Motorway M81 (Nonthaburi-Kanchanaburi) in Nakhon Pathom province.
The car’s occupants, a couple and their two children, all escaped safely, although the vehicle was severely damaged.
The driver said that before the fire, he noticed a yellow dashboard warning light. Shortly afterward, smoke was seen coming from the hood, followed by a burning smell and a fire coming from underneath the car.
The incident has fuelled concerns among Volvo EV drivers as the Swedish brand is facing intense scrutiny over its EX30, which has been involved in two fires in Thailand this month.
In a letter issued in response to the XC60 fire, Volvo Car Thailand stated: “Based on a preliminary examination of images from the incident, together with information gathered from people at the scene, the company found that the source of the heat or fire did not originate from the high-voltage battery area.”
However, where the fire actually originated has yet to be determined. The company said it would continue investigating to establish the complete facts.
Any further developments will be reported accordingly, it said.
The XC60 is a plug-in hybrid, powered by either electricity or petrol, while the EX30 is a battery-electric vehicle.
