The provider of mobile photovoltaic systems Sono is finally stopping the development of its electric car with solar modules Sion. After the financing of this project failed, the start-up company from Munich intends to concentrate exclusively on retrofitting and integrating solar technology in third-party vehicles, as it announced today.
Due to the discontinuation of the Sion program, Sono expects to lay off around 300 employees. As soon as the department is settled, Sono Motors boss Thomas Hausch wants to resign.
“Original Heart Project”
Company founder Laurin Hahn called the Sion “our original heart project” and added: “Despite the more than 45,000 reservations and pre-orders for the Sion, we were forced to react to the ongoing instability of the financial markets”. Sono writes in a statement: “The termination of the Sion program reflects the company’s decision to focus on a less capital-intensive business model given the poor conditions in the capital market – around 90 percent of the financing needs for 2023 were caused by the Sion program .” Shortly before the planned pre-series production, 18 vehicles already existed.
reversal of down payments
The down payments for the electric car raised as part of the crowdfunding are to be reversed as follows: reservations that were paid down before the #savesion campaign are to be repaid in several installments plus a bonus over the next two years, starting with the first installment in May 2023 . The payment commitments received as part of the #savesion campaign since December 8, 2022 will not be collected.
Sono develops mobile photovoltaic solutions, for example for public buses. The company is currently a development partner and supplier to companies such as Mitsubishi Europe, Chereau, Scania and MAN Truck & Bus. The launch of the next generation of the “Solar Bus Kit” is planned for the second quarter of 2023.
also read
(fpi)
