Shaping a sustainable future together: Covestro and Team Sonnenwagen continue their partnership

Covestro is sending a strong signal for a sustainable future by extending its partnership with Team Sonnenwagen Aachen for another two years. The plastics manufacturer has been supporting the student initiative since its founding in 2017 and has served as main sponsor and technology partner since 2018. This support flows directly into the development of innovative solar racing cars. The team competes with these vehicles in international competitions, including the World Solar Challenge, a 3,000-kilometer race across the Australian outback that is considered the most demanding challenge of its kind.

“For me, there is nothing more exciting than seeing innovation and accountability in their purest form, and the Team Sonnenwagen is exactly that” emphasizes Dr. Thorsten Dreier, Chief Technology Officer at Covestro. “Since 2018, they have inspired us because in them we recognize the same spirit we see in our partners, customers and in ourselves: people who move forward when others hesitate, who accelerate the transition to a more circular, climate-neutral future, and who create impact. We are proud to have been their main sponsor and partner for all these years, and we are thrilled to continue pushing boundaries together towards a sustainable future.”

Nassim Lagrou, student at RWTH Aachen University and the new team leader of Team Sonnenwagen, shares this enthusiasm: "We are incredibly proud that Covestro continues to be part of our journey. Over the years, they have proven to be so much more than a sponsor: they are a great partner who brings excellent material solutions and expertise to the table. Whenever we faced a challenge, Covestro was there. Not just with materials and expertise. But as people who really care and share our passion for the Sonnenwagen. It’s about winning together and sharing the same mission, passion and values. That means the world to us."

A successful partnership with a strong track record

The partnership between Covestro and Team Sonnenwagen can look back on an impressive track record of success: European Champions in 2022 at the iLumen European Solar Challenge in Zolder, winners of the Italian Solar Challenge in Imola, as well as additional podium finishes at the European Solar Challenge 2024. With their current solar car, “Covestro Æthon”, the team has continued this success, achieving a top result with fourth place at the World Solar Challenge 2025¹ , including a new team record in qualifying.

More than ten different Covestro materials are used in Æthon. Highlights include the more sustainable, mass-balanced Vulkollan^®, which cushions impacts between the battery and the body, as well as Makrolon^® TC, a thermally conductive polycarbonate used for battery temperature regulation.

This is complemented by a resource-efficient coating that cures at room temperature, along with a seat made from chemically recycled automotive seat foam, combining comfort with sustainability. Additional materials are used in components such as the cockpit canopy, outer shell, headlights, seat, and steering wheel.

For the newly formed Team Sonnenwagen, the next highlight is already on the horizon this year: on September 19 and 20, the team will compete in the European Solar Challenge in Zolder, Belgium, aiming once again for a podium finish. Construction of the new Sonnenwagen will begin in the autumn. With this new car, the team will line up at the World Solar Challenge in Australia in 2027, with the clear goal of competing for victory once again.

_{¹ The World Solar Challenge is an international race for solar-powered cars. It runs 3,000 kilometers from Darwin to Adelaide through the Australian outback. It is considered the world’s toughest competition for solar mobility, in which teams from universities around the world compete against one another.}