Sono Motors to unveil new prototype in January

Sono Motors has taken the next step on the road to mass production of an electric car powered only by solar energy.

Fans of the Sion solar car can rejoice: A new prototype is scheduled to be unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) technology trade show in January 2021. Sono Motors' plan is to have a second-generation prototype ready next winter.

"We have now for the first time installed parts in the Sion that are intended for series production," says Denis Azhar of Sono Motors. The Munich-based start-up spent a year working on the development. The Corona pandemic made work difficult, but didn't change the idea of fighting climate catastrophe with a car powered entirely by solar energy, says founder and CEO Jona Christians.

Just earlier this year, the company said it raised 53 million euros with the help of a major crowdfunding campaign. 75 percent of that came from reservers of the Sion solar electric vehicle, 19 percent via previously invested and new investors, and about 6 percent via loans and donations.

Sono Motors plans to put the solar car into mass production and probably sell it for around 25,000 euros. A declaration of war against rival companies working on cars with solar technology.