Sono Motors: Test fleet from summer, series production starting in 2023

The Munich-based start-up Sono Motors is setting a course towards series production after a long development phase and has announced the construction of a fleet of validation vehicles for final testing this summer. The test vehicles consist of series components and correspond to the expected final design, which was established at the beginning of the year with the completion of the second-generation prototype program and the associated definition of the components and vehicle parameters.

In the coming months, Sono Motors will test, validate, and certify the Sion before the first Solar Electric Vehicle (SEV) is set to roll off the production line next year. The test vehicles will undergo rigorous practical tests under extreme conditions in Europe and the USA. This includes testing in various climate zones, optimizing solar technology, securing and fine-tuning driving dynamics on test tracks and in road traffic, as well as crash tests.

“The start of the series testing phase is another step on our way to climate-friendly mobility of the future. Getting from the first concept from a garage to this point was only possible with hundreds of engineers who work daily on the Sion and our Sono Solar technology. The fleet of validation vehicles now follows our successful second-generation prototype program and paves the way for series production planned for next year,” said Jona Christians, CEO and founder of Sono Motors.

The fleet of 37 builds of the 3rd generation consists of 16 complete vehicles and 21 test carriers. The public premiere of the Sion in its final design is planned for summer 2022. Then, part of the series validation vehicles is expected to go on a Europe-wide test drive tour once again.

Production Partners thyssenkrupp Automotive and Bertrandt

In the production of the series validation vehicles, Sono Motors is supported by thyssenkrupp Automotive Body Solutions and Bertrandt.

“Both partners not only have comprehensive expertise in automotive engineering but also the necessary infrastructure and capacities to manufacture our test vehicles quickly and to a high quality. This keeps us on schedule for the Sion testing,” says Markus Volmer, Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of Sono Motors.

As an expert in integrated body solutions, thyssenkrupp Automotive Body Solutions is responsible for the production of the aluminum space frames. Bertrandt, with decades of experience in holistic vehicle development, takes on the assembly of the Sion test fleet in Munich.