Sono Sion Solar EV will be manufactured in Finland, not Sweden, changing production partners
Munich-based startup Sono Motors on Tuesday announced changes to its production plan for its solar-powered Sion electric vehicle.
The startup announced in a press release that it is converting its contract manufacturing partner to Valmet Automotive, which will build the Sion at its plant in Uusikaupunki, Finland. According to Sono Motors, the start of production is expected in the second half of 2023.
Valmet will produce cars at a rate of 43,000 vehicles per year, with a goal of producing more than 257,000 vehicles over a seven-year period, Sono Motors said. The company will also build Lightyear One solar carand produced before thinkFisker Karma, Porsche Boxster and earlier Caymans, and a wide range of Saabs vehicles.
Sono Sion solar powered electric vehicle
Sono’s previous contract manufacturing partner was Sweden’s NEVS — and Saab .’s old factory in Trollhattan, Sweden. But one Recent production update unexpectedly omitted any details about the production partner. Sono also did not respond to requests for clarification — so that explains why.
Along with the news of the move from NEVS to Valmet, Sono Motors confirmed plans to raise prices. The startup says it has taken on more than 17,000 restorations based on a price of 23,950 euros ($26,100) before taxes and subsidies. It plans to increase the base price to 25,126 euros ($27,400) after reaching 18,500 pre-orders.
Sono Motors credits rising costs – including higher costs for manufacturing facilities, components, raw materials, energy and logistics – as the reason for the increase in vehicle prices.
Sono Sion solar powered electric vehicle
But the startup insists earlier that embedded solar panels are worth it. According to Sono Motors, the solar cells can extend the estimated 189-mile range of Sion’s 54-kwh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack by an average of 69 miles and up to 152 miles per week, according to Sono Motors. Owners in metropolitan areas will charge up to four times less per week than a typical electric vehicle of a similar package size, the startup claims.
The Sion will also have 11-kw bidirectional charging, allowing it to charge other electric vehicles or power homes or electronics, according to Sono Motors.
Sono reconfigure the package a bit in 2021, as part of the vehicle’s development. That includes a change to the current, larger LFP package. Even though some startup shortcuts Now it will end with a development timeline that is quite close to the line of electric vehicles from the major automakers.
