We’ll See An Up to date Sony-Honda Afeela Prototype At CES

• The electrical automobile three way partnership between Sony and Honda, dubbed Afeela, remains to be on monitor to launch in 2025 forward of 2026 deliveries.
• It is a software-driven electrical sedan, constructed by Honda in Ohio and powered by a library of Sony video video games, films and different leisure content material. 
• The ultimate specs are unknown, however we’ll see extra at CES 2025 in January.

Honda could also be late to the sport with electrical autos, however it’s acquired aggressive plans to catch up quick that embrace an enormous manufacturing hub in Ohio and numerous new applied sciences developed in-house. However the wild card in that plan is its surprising tie-up with Japanese shopper electronics and leisure big Sony, which can yield a brand new electrical model referred to as Afeela.

Does the title sound a bit foolish? Positive, however the finish product goals to not be. Afeela appears to be operating an identical playbook because the Chinese language EVs that at present have the remainder of the trade spooked: numerous screens, numerous software program integration and superior options like hands-off automated driving help. The Afeela sedan prototype was unveiled at CES in 2023 and it confirmed off some AI-driven know-how at this yr’s occasion. 

Now, Sony Honda Mobility officers inform InsideEVs that we’ll see an up to date model of the sedan prototype in lower than two months from now, at CES 2025. At a tour of the prototype in New York at the moment, Motorsport Community‘s Automotive Social Media Supervisor Maddox Kay realized that an developed variant of the automotive will certainly debut on the tech commerce present. Officers additionally confirmed that the prototype on show could be a brand new model of this sedan, not essentially the SUV and smaller EV that Afeela has alluded to—although who is aware of what else the corporate has in retailer.

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That is all we all know for now. However Afeela has beforehand informed us a little bit bit about what it goals to do with the automotive when it goes into manufacturing. It is anticipated to be powered by a pretty big 91 kWh lithium-ion battery with dual-motor all-wheel-drive good for at the very least 400 horsepower.

Afeela has by no means said a focused electrical vary, however the model has talked about 150 kW DC quick charging—midpack at finest by what we’ll anticipate of automobiles in 2026, so maybe that may see an improve sooner or later. It is also confirmed to make use of a Tesla-style North American Charging Commonplace plug from the manufacturing unit and have entry to the Tesla Supercharger community natively. 

2024 Sony Honda Mobility Afeela prototype

2024 Sony Honda Mobility Afeela prototype

2024 Sony Honda Mobility Afeela prototype

Arguably the actual get together will likely be contained in the Afeela. The automotive is loaded with screens, together with a panoramic that spans the dashboard and two dealing with the rear passengers. It has built-in leisure content material from the huge Sony library, with Qualcomm chips powering in-car films like Spider-Man: No Means House, PlayStation 5 distant play (together with a gaming controller that is additionally been used to drive the prototype) and a software program ecosystem designed for “creators.” Consider it as a PlayStation on wheels, or Sony’s tackle what the Apple Automotive might need been if it had ended up with a steering wheel. Or existed in any respect, fairly. 

Extra crucially, it appears to me just like the Afeela model, expertise and heavy emphasis on software program and in-car leisure are Japan’s reply to the sorts of cutting-edge EVs we see popping out of China these days. These are smooth, high-range EVs—typically sedans, too—that go heavy on touchscreens as an alternative of buttons and are full of streaming options and even video video games to take pleasure in whereas parked or charging. The identical is true for the deliberate hands-free automated driving options. Whereas the Japanese automakers have been late to the EV sport, they’re spooked by the rise of China these days, and the remainder of Japan Inc.—say, Sony or Panasonic, for instance—are equally scared about shedding out on the longer term. So whereas it is a large leap to say that Afeela may take down rising titans like Xiaomi or BYD, a three way partnership that mixes Sony’s software program and leisure dominance with Honda’s carmaking know-how is only one instance of the place the trade is headed subsequent. 

Sony Honda Afeela Tesla NACS Charging

However will it really go into manufacturing? I am barely much less satisfied of that. Whereas making the Afeela EV at Honda’s new manufacturing unit actually is sensible, launching a wholly new and unproven model could possibly be a distinct proposition in 2026, particularly if we see adjustments to issues like EV tax credit underneath the brand new presidential administration. And there is definitely the query of whether or not American patrons will desire a form of Chinese language-style software-defined automobile when that market feels thus far forward of our personal. No costs have been introduced for the Afeela EV but, however it’s been anticipated to begin round $50,000. It could make extra sense for Sony to combine these applied sciences into current manufacturers and EV’s, together with those Honda is cooking up.

For now, at the very least, the three way partnership says it is on monitor to really promote some automobiles, with manufacturing slated to start late subsequent yr. Hopefully, we’ll study extra at CES in January. 

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