Production in the former Saab factory
If there was a friendly headline in the last few days, it was this: “Production in the former Saab plant” was the headline for “Automobile Production”. It revolved around Sono Motors and the Sion. The Munich-based company is becoming more and more present in the media and is getting the attention it deserves. Representatives of the press had the opportunity to drive the Sion prototype, and the result was many reports in the media. Welcome to the weekly press review.
Production in the former Saab factory
Sono Motors had good press this week. The right product at the right time and a provider who approaches things differently. The Sion is a community car; the solar cells integrated in the body are innovative. Many articles about Sono Motors could be read this week, the article in the "Automobile production”Is just one of them.
Saab, and the old factory in Trollhättan, play a supporting role. According to current plans, 2023 Sion will be built on Göta Älv per year from 43.000. 12 years after the end of automobile production and then in 2-shift operation.
That reads well for Trollhättan and for the Saab fans. However, investments in the old Saab location are necessary beforehand, and on a large scale. So far nothing can be seen of this, one has to wait and see what happens.
Dark Mode = Night Panel
Sometimes you wonder what happened to the nice little Saab ideas. That was the Night Panel, which began its career as a black panel in the Saab 900 II. During the night it switched off the lighting of all displays except for the speedometer. Just a gimmick? It was more than that.
Behind this was the experience from aircraft construction and the active relief of the eyes at night. Reduced exposure to light in the cockpit reduces stress on the eyes. The concentration for what is happening on the street increases. Young readers will smile mildly at this. The 50 plus generation nod in agreement. The night panel, used deliberately, makes every night drive more pleasant. And safer.
With the disappearance of Saab, the Night Panel also disappeared. But not quite. Senova and BAIC models based on the Saab platform of the 9-3 II used not only Saab engines. The night panel was also taken over. Now it appears again in the Corvette C8.
GM Authority reports on it and calls it Dark Mode. Not quite as consistently as implemented at Saab, the Corvette cockpit almost turns into a fighter jet at night. The original Saab idea, which is allowed to live on in a great American sports car, is of course pointed out.
Warming is different
Anders Warming almost became a beacon of hope for the Saab fans. His Saab X_RayVision polarized and interested. There was interest in Saab, passion for a very special make of car was felt. Then designed the Dane still has Hengchi 1, 2 and 4 for Evergrande Auto.
Could there be more in it for the future? Something that looks like Saab and is built in series? Preferably in Trollhättan, of course. Designers like Warming are of course in demand. His independence did not last long, his own design studio is on hold for the time being. The website is offline, the Saab designs are only available here.
Today, July 1, 2021, Warming will join his new position as Director Design Rolls Royce at. A big brand and an exciting challenge. Thank you Anders Warming for dreams like the Saab X_Ray Vision!
With images from Chevrolet and Rolls Royce
The Sion will not be produced. The development seems to have stagnated by Sono Motors. They have had two new show cars to be produced, that are not near series. Hand built with an unknown (Continental) drivetrain. Much like in 2017. Not usable for any real testing, just for test drives to get more pre-orders. Pre-orders that won't be enought to finance production tooling, development or production. The real development is still ahead. Billions are missing.
Let's see what happens to the Sion. I think it's exciting, and the Trollhättan plant would also be recommended as a plant for special work. The demand is changing. And with that you could certainly build up a certain market.
Incidentally, the night panel can also be found in the former Citroën C5. I was very happy to use the function for evening or night trips. However, it was and is unpleasant that the info lights for the front lighting continue to shine with full brightness.
Even with other details, you sometimes get the impression that SAAB has been copied here and there. As a newcomer, I will soon introduce myself here with my new acquisition (SAAB 9-3 SportCombi Vector from 2009) and make a subjective comparison between the C5 Tourer and the 9-3 SC. Even if it is a comparison of different vehicle classes.
In my opinion, nothing will come of the Sion. Sono Motors doesn't have enough money to set up sales.
A crash test will show whether the body structure is any good. Where did Sono Motors get the know-how from? Opel, Ford etc. have a 100 years lead when it comes to body construction!
Even if the car is built in Trollhättan, it has nothing to do with Saab. For me, the car is rather embarrassing that it might be built there. Fortunately, SAAB is no longer on the building, but NEVS.
The Wallenbergs (Saab AB) made the right decision!
Nothing against your opinion ...
It may well be that it won't work, that it fails because of money. We will see …
But I find the rest of the reasoning strange. The carriages (French “carrosse”) from 100 years ago (with or without engines) teach us nothing today. Neither about occupant protection, nor about that of pedestrians or cyclists.
It is more than enough for Sono to bring the latest know-how on board.
You don't have to have helped build the Wasa in order to laminate sailing yachts today that don't sink when they first go into the water.
Incidentally, fits the article & your comment that Rolls Royce entered the body shop for the first time 100 years ago. However, it took a quarter of a century before a “complete” Rolls Royce could be bought from a single source for the first time in 1946. All of them previously came from a large number of coach builders - today we call them coachbuilders and think of cars, maybe even expertise and crash tests. But that's nonsense and historically wrong.
Body builders were people who created fragile but luxurious rooms in sheet metal, glass, wood, fabric & leather without any risk of thinking. Sono does that better (if they can manage it financially) because completely different admission criteria apply today.
The production in the SAAB factory would be great, so the name remains present and the idea of the Sion is almost like SAAB, different, little money and a basic car like the SAAB 92. Well, let's hope it works!
Yes that's true. The Sion fits in well with the Saab tradition because it is different. A sympathetic project.
And after the Sono Sion ...
comes the Sono Retro. A stretched, elegant hatchback with rear-paneled wheel arches, a fabulous drag coefficient and a range of 500 km outside of town. 550 when the sun is shining while driving ...
The name (Retro) is half subtly ironic and half reference at the same time. After all, he uses the most modern means to tie in with old virtues and designs. Already 100 years earlier (from 1930) engineers and designers had devised cars for long journeys under different auspices, which, despite relatively low power and relatively small tanks, should be able to take passengers and luggage astonishingly quickly and astonishingly with the lowest possible energy consumption. If we really want to save energy and resources, this must apply again in 2030. Gladly made in Trollhättan ...
A cyber truck and commercial space travel do not solve any of the earthly problems ...
Sono_Motors is pretty active on Instagram too.
A short comment on my part was immediately followed by a very friendly response from Sion.
I'm curious how it will develop ...
The Night Panel function is also available in the current Volvo trucks