Sono Group Subsidiary Becomes First in Germany to Receive National Type Approval for Solar Integration on Vehicles

National certification for vehicle-integrated photovoltaics (ViPV) highlights Sono Group’s leadership in sustainable mobility

/EIN News/ -- New York, Jan. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The solar technology company Sono Group N.V. (OTCQB: SEVCD) (hereafter referred to as “Sono Group” or the “Company”, parent company to Sono Motors GmbH or “Sono Motors”), is proud to announce that Sono Motors has become the first company in Germany to receive National Type Approval (Teiletypgenehmigung, TTG) for vehicle-integrated photovoltaics (ViPV). This national certification for the Solar Bus Kit represents a significant step forward in sustainable mobility and underscores the Company’s leadership in advancing clean energy solutions.

The Solar Bus Kit is a retrofit solution designed to integrate photovoltaic modules directly onto the roofs of buses, providing a practical, efficient way to reduce diesel consumption and CO2 emissions. The energy generated feeds into the vehicle’s electrical system, boosting energy efficiency and helping operators lower operational costs while meeting environmental goals.

This significant milestone was achieved after extensive testing and collaboration with the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, KBA) and the Technical Inspection Association (TÜV). The certification is a confirmation from the national authority that the Solar Bus Kit meets all EU safety, environmental and conformity of production requirements. The Company expects the National Type Approval to set a precedent for the approval of its ViPV solutions across Europe and other regions that adhere to the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) standards. This approval simplifies the process of obtaining road approval in these markets, paving the way for the broader adoption of our ViPV technology.

Accelerating Growth and Customer Benefits

The National Type Approval means customers can benefit from:
●    Streamlined Approval Processes: Simplified documentation and inspection procedures, eliminating the need for individual certifications.
●    Regulatory Compliance: Compliance with safety and environmental standards for vehicles equipped with the Solar Bus Kit.
●    Cost and Time Savings: Streamlined approval processes expected to reduce expenses and accelerate the timeline for customers to get their vehicles on the road.

“This national certification marks a pivotal milestone for Sono Group as we accelerate the commercialization of solar mobility in the technology market,” said George O'Leary, Managing Director and CEO of Sono Group. “The German Federal Motor Transport Authority’s general operating approval for our Solar Bus Kit demonstrates our commitment to cutting-edge innovation and sustainable solutions. We expect this achievement to not only solidify our market leadership in vehicle-integrated photovoltaics but to also unlock significant growth opportunities to scale our product globally and drive measurable impact across the transportation industry.”

Looking Ahead

By achieving this approval, Sono Group is laying the foundation for scaling its solar technology across diverse transportation markets. Recognized for its contributions to climate-friendly mobility, the Solar Bus Kit represents a transformative solution for fleet operators looking to achieve sustainability goals efficiently and affordably. As the Company advances its vision of creating solar-powered vehicles for commercial use, it remains committed to delivering value to its customers and shareholders while driving a cleaner, greener future.

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ABOUT SONO GROUP N.V.

Sono Group N.V. (OTCQB: SEVCD) and its wholly owned subsidiary Sono Motors GmbH are on a pioneering mission to accelerate the revolution of mobility by making every commercial vehicle solar. Our disruptive solar technology has been developed to enable seamless integration into all types of commercial vehicles to reduce the impact of CO2 emissions and pave the way for climate-friendly mobility. For more information about Sono Group N.V., Sono Motors, and their solar solutions, visit sonogroupnv.com and sonomotors.com. Follow us on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, BlueSky, Truth Social, and X.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. The words "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "aim", "forecast", "project", "target", “will” and similar expressions (or their negative) identify certain of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are statements regarding the intentions, beliefs, or current expectations of the Company and Sono Motors (together, the “companies”). Forward-looking statements involve inherent known and unknown risks, uncertainties and contingencies because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future and could cause the companies’ actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, risks, uncertainties and assumptions with respect to: the Company’s ability to uplist to the Nasdaq Capital Market, including meeting the initial listing requirements; the Company’s ability to satisfy the conditions precedent set forth in its recent securities purchase agreement (“Securities Purchase Agreement”) and exchange agreement (“Exchange Agreement”) entered into with YA II PN, Ltd. (“Yorkville”); the timing of closing the transactions contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement and the Exchange Agreement; the impact of the transactions contemplated by the Exchange Agreement and Securities Purchase Agreement on the Company’s operating results; the ability to access the unfunded portion of the investment from Yorkville, including our ability to successfully comply with the agreements related thereto and the absence of any termination event or any event of default; our ability to maintain relationships with creditors, suppliers, service providers, customers, employees and other third parties in light of the performance and credit risks associated with our constrained liquidity position and capital structure; our ability to comply with OTCQB continuing standards; our ability to achieve our stated goals; our strategies, plan, objectives and goals, including, among others, the successful implementation and management of the pivot of our business to exclusively retrofitting and integrating our solar technology onto third party vehicles; our ability to raise the additional funding required beyond the investment from Yorkville to further develop and commercialize our solar technology and business as well as to continue as a going concern. For additional information concerning some of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could affect our forward-looking statements, please refer to our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including our Annual Report on Form 20-F, which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on our website at ir.sonomotors.com. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond our ability to control or estimate precisely, such as the actions of courts, regulatory authorities and other factors. Readers should therefore not place undue reliance on these statements, particularly not in connection with any contract or investment decision. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.

CONTACT

Press: press@sonomotors.com | ir.sonomotors.com/news-events

Investors: ir@sonomotors.com | ir.sonomotors.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sonogroupnv