Will the Hopium hydrogen sedan come out of the factory? The question arises as the French start-up is going through a complicated period. The company, which had distinguished itself at the last Paris Motor Show, has decided to review its copy. Faced with increasing expenses and a more delicate economic context, Hopium is laying off around thirty collaborators among its 142 employees, reveals The world.
The company is also looking for capital to continue its development. While the young tricolor shoot has already collected 95 million euros, it hopes to raise an additional 200 million within three years and forge alliances with new industrial partners, reports the evening daily. Hopium will also receive more public subsidies under the France 2030 plan, which provides an envelope of 9 billion euros to develop the French hydrogen sector.
1 billion euros in sight in 2030
The current feverishness of the company contrasts with its ambitious face displayed so far. When she received a visit from Emmanuel Macron at the Paris Motor Show in October 2022, she saw things big, aiming for 1 billion euros in turnover by 2030. However, the production of its first model, called Machina, should only start in 2025 with a first factory in Douains (Eure). The site could produce up to 20,000 vehicles per year.
On the occasion of the Paris motor show, the manufacturer had signed a very large contract with Crédit Agricole for a provisional order of 10,000 hydrogen sedans, amounting to 1.2 billion euros. Hopium will have to multiply this type of commercial operations in the coming months to ensure its sustainability and become a key player in the automotive industry with its hydrogen super GT, with a power of around 500 hp and a 0 to 100 km / h shot down in less than 5 s.
