Electric Historical Vehicles Put Up for Auction
In a significant shift, Munich-based Sono Motors has rebranded as SonoSolar, signifying the company's focus on solar solutions for the automotive industry. This change marks the end of Sono Motors' aspiration as an electric car manufacturer and the beginning of a new era.
The rebranding comes with a change in the company's primary focus from building the solar electric car Sion to providing solar solutions for vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators worldwide. Georg Zurmühl, Head of Commercial at SonoSolar, confirmed that the company has not been a car manufacturer for some time.
As part of this transition, the remaining assets from the Sion program are being auctioned. The auction includes complete prototypes of the Sion, as well as tools, components, and various parts that were used in the production of the pioneering solar EV. The online auction, which is open until September 9, 2025, at 10 a.m., offers a total of 267 items. These range from door side panels (starting bid €10 for an entire grid box) to Sion electric motors (starting at €50 each).
The auctioned assets are remnants of a pioneering phase that has shaped the company and a community. According to SonoSolar, many of these items could be of great interest to developers, collectors, educational institutions, or those with a passion for mobility change. The statement from Sono emphasizes the company's heritage as solar mobility pioneers.
The liquidator of the former Sion program has started the auction, aiming to find new homes for these materials among researchers, collectors, educators, and others interested in sustainable mobility innovation. The plan for Sono Motors' own electric car with solar cells in the body had been abandoned at the beginning of 2023.
SonoSolar's new brand name and logo reflect the company's change from a solar electric car manufacturer to a provider of solar solutions for the automotive industry. The company's goal remains to become a leading provider of solar technology. The rebranding and the auction of the remaining assets from the Sion program mark a new chapter in SonoSolar's journey towards achieving this goal.
The rebranding of Sono Motors to SonoSolar signals a shift from manufacturing solar electric cars, like the Sion, to offering solar solutions for vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators worldwide. The online auction of Sion's remaining assets, including electric motors and door side panels, showcases the transition from being an electric-vehicle manufacturer to a provider of solar technology in the automotive industry.
