Sono signs Valmet as contract manufacturer for the Sion
Sono Motors has changed the contract manufacturer for the series production of its Sion and increased the price of the solar electric car. In addition, a new production location has been found for the solar vehicle.
After it become apparent that the production of the Sion by National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) in Sweden, announced in 2019, would not take place, Sono Motors has now signed a binding agreement with Valmet Automotive for the production of the Sion in Finland. The Finnish contract manufacturer will produce the Sion at its plant in Uusikaupunki and provide capacity for the production of more than 257,000 vehicles over a seven-year period. Production is scheduled to start in the 2nd half of 2023.
The price increase was reasoned as being due to increased manufacturing costs, and, as a result, the Sion will cost 25,126 euros net in the future instead of the current 23,950 euros net. The new price is going to be valid starting from 18,500 reservations. By the end of March 2022, Sono Motors had recorded over 17,000 direct customer reservations for the Sion, which the manufacturer assured are not affected by the changes.
“The cooperation marks another milestone towards delivering the Sion to our growing Community,” said Laurin Hahn, CEO and co-founder of Sono Motors, adding: “We are convinced that collaborating with such a reliable and experienced partner is an excellent match for bringing the Sion to the streets, while securing high quality standards. We value Valmet Automotive’s experience in manufacturing premium automobiles and their proven track record in electro mobility.”
Valmet CEO Olaf Bongwald responded: “We have been pioneers in electric vehicle manufacturing since 2009, and the innovative solar electric Sion will take us to the next level as the first high-volume, fully electric vehicle to be produced in the Uusikaupunki plant. In the rapidly changing automotive industry, Sono Motors is a leading exponent.”
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