Sony and Honda, who have been working together for some time on a joint project (official name: Sony Honda Mobility) to launch an all-electric vehicle brand, today announced their name and presented a first prototype at the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show currently being held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The first model from the Afeela brand is this all-electric sedan whose name has not yet been announced. We can expect a final product presentation somewhere in 2025, when the company will start accepting pre-orders. Deliveries to buyers will begin in spring 2026 if all goes according to plan. The model is manufactured in the United States.
Like most other automakers working on next-generation electric vehicles, the CEO of the new Sony Honda Mobility joint venture, Yasuhido Mizuno, emphasized the high level of interactivity and connectivity between the new model and its owners:
“Afeela represents our concept of the interactive relationship, where people can feel the sense of intelligent mobility and where mobility can perceive and understand people and society through sensor and AI (Artificial Intelligence) technologies. »
– Yasuhido Mizuno, CEO of Sony Honda Mobility
The first Afeela model is a sedan not dissimilar to a specific Tesla Model 3, with an aerodynamic exterior design that is still realistic and practical. The striking elements include the light strips at the front and rear and the oversized wheels on which the vehicle rests.
• Sony and Honda present the first concept of the Afeela brand at CES 2023.
• Afeela is the name of a new EV brand launched jointly by the two companies.
• Sony Honda Mobility is taking orders for the 2025 model ahead of a planned 2026 launch.
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Inside, the designers got fancier, notably with the crescent steering wheel and dash screen that literally stretches from door to door (framed by screens replacing the wing mirrors). We can expect some of the fanciest parts to be dropped en route to the final production model.
The elements most likely to survive the transition are the floating console between the front seats, the screens on the backs of the front seats, and the huge panoramic roof.
The prototype version of this first Afeela model is equipped with 45 cameras and sensors, indicating a variety of advanced driver assistance systems. The vehicle is also equipped for level 3 autonomous driving on the highway and level 2 in the city.
