Sono Motors

Sono Motors, a German electric vehicle and solar technology startup, has implemented a workforce reduction as part of significant business restructuring. The layoffs are connected to ongoing final negotiations with potential investors and a strategic shift to ensure the company's long-term stability. This restructuring aligns with a streamlined business model that will initially focus on its Solar Bus Kit product. While the exact number of employees affected and the total workforce size were not specified in the announcement, the move includes changes to management and reflects a difficult decision made to adapt the corporate structure for future operations. The automotive and clean tech industry company is undergoing this transformation to secure its financial future and refine its market focus.

Sono Motors, a German electric vehicle startup, laid off approximately 300 employees, representing nearly all of its workforce, in early 2023. This drastic reduction followed the company's decision to cancel its flagship Sion solar-electric car project due to insufficient funding and a failed crowdfunding campaign. The layoffs, which affected around 90% of the staff, were part of a strategic shift to focus on licensing its solar technology to other manufacturers in the automotive industry. The move marked a significant downsizing for the once-promising startup, which had aimed to bring an affordable solar-assisted EV to market.