When the Munich-based startup Sono Motors announced last summer that affordable electric car Sion with integrated solar cells The attention was huge. Not only did the media response sound promising, but the crowdfunding campaign was also a complete success. And what's the current situation? Will the Sion soon be on our streets? Laurin Hahn, one of the founders, answered our questions.
Hello Laurin, a lot has happened since we reported on you in August of last year. A major milestone was certainly the successful crowdfunding campaign, in which you raised a total of over €200,000. Did you expect this success? What else has crowdfunding brought you – besides money?
The crowdfunding campaign was and remains a truly tremendous success. Thanks to our supporters, we have now raised over €500,000 through various channels. We didn't expect this overwhelmingly positive response, which makes us all the more pleased and honored. We now have over 1,000 non-binding pre-orders for the Sion, which clearly shows us that this car appeals to a large market.
The crowdfunding campaign was clearly the starting point for our success. The campaign raised a lot of awareness. In addition to raising money, we were able to build a large community that supports us tremendously. This allows the community to actively participate in important decisions in the Sion's development process. In the past, we've let them decide on things like fast-charging capability, the number of seats, and the Sion's design.
Despite this success, it was always clear that you needed investors to realize your project. Was your search successful? And did anyone support you in this search?
Developing a car and bringing it to market is certainly not easy, so it was clear to us from the start that we needed to go a step further with financing. We established contact with our investors primarily through our own research. A self-organized investor event at the beginning of the year ultimately resulted in some synergies.
Flexibility and independence should not be lost
Did big players from the automotive industry also want to join you?
We've definitely had a lot of interest from some original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). We've had several positive discussions, some of which are still ongoing, especially with the prospect of series production. Having a large partner on our side is good in terms of security and access to existing components. However, there's a risk that an agile company like ours could quickly lose flexibility and independence. These aspects must always be considered when making such decisions.
Your team has certainly grown as well. How many are you now?
Yes, our team has practically quintupled since the beginning of this year. We now have 15 people here in Munich. However, a total of over 40 people are working on bringing the Sion to the road. So, we have a very broad range of skills.
Presale strategy aims to take crowdfunding to a whole new level
And then, of course, the crucial question: Is the plan still in place for the first test drives with the Sion to begin next July? And what have been the biggest challenges along the way so far?
Yes, definitely. At the end of July there will be a big release event with the presentation of the solar car in Munich Technology Center . Well-known figures from politics, business, and the media are expected to attend, along with those who have pre-ordered the vehicle that evening. Following this, the test drive tour will begin through many European countries. The starting signal will, of course, be in our hometown of Munich, where we have already booked almost 200 test drives. After the test drive, everyone will have the opportunity to pre-order the Sion.
With this presale strategy, we want to take crowdfunding to a whole new level. With every pre-ordered Sion, we move one step closer to series production. Pre-orders are crucial for us to maintain a strong position in negotiations with suppliers and the manufacturer. This means that the crowd has a significant influence on the production of the Sion.
Are there any other new developments/innovations that have developed over time?
In addition to our viSono system, which enables 30 kilometers of free travel thanks to integrated solar cells, there are numerous other unique selling points. For example, the Sion's bidirectional charging system. This means the Sion can supply power via a standard Schuko plug wherever it is. And it recharges itself via the solar cells. A self-charging, mobile power storage unit, in other words. Just imagine the wide range of applications this opens up. Be it for camping here or in developing countries as a replacement for a diesel generator. We're also currently working on a few other innovations that we haven't yet announced. Stay tuned!
Overwhelmed by positive feedback
Do you sometimes have doubts or do you still believe in your idea — or perhaps even more than before?
To be completely honest, we're simply overwhelmed by the positive feedback we've received from all sides and the people who support us every day in our vision to move this project forward. Without all of these people, none of this would be possible. This encourages us so much in our work that we don't even have time to think about doubts.
Thanks for the interview!
