Sony Honda Mobility is the automotive joint venture between Honda and Sony. It aims to build electric vehicles with advanced self-driving technology. Now we have new details about when the first models from the company will hit the roads.
According to Nikkei Asia, Sony Honda Mobility will launch an SUV in 2027 and a less expensive compact model in 2028 or later, in addition to the previously announced Afeela electric sedan, which will arrive in 2025. All three vehicles will share the same platform.
Sony Honda Mobility's compact model will reportedly share components with Honda's internally developed EVs to keep prices down. The company just unveiled the sedan concept at CES, ahead of the launch of a production model in 2026.
Sony Honda Mobility Afeela
We don't have many details on Sony Honda Mobility's SUV yet. Sony previously showed the Vision-S 02 concept, which hinted at what such a vehicle might look like. It shared a design language with the sedan, but with a taller ride and a hatchback.
The Afeela sedan, which goes on sale in 2025, uses front and rear electric motors that produce 241 horsepower each. It is equipped with a 91 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
Sony Vision-S 02 SUV Concept
Inside, there's a screen that takes up almost the entire dashboard. Sony wants to provide access to its huge media empire, so people can watch movies like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse or play Fortnite on that screen. The driver grips a yoke steering wheel.
Sony Honda Mobility is packing the Afeela with technology. The pre-production model has 45 sensors, including lidar, and eight cameras. Chips from Qualcomm are said to provide the processing power to support Level 3 self-driving, which means a person would still need to take over at times.
Source: Nikkei Asia
