Televisions, sound systems, the PlayStation, smartphones and now electric vehicles (EV), Sony has announced at CES 2025 that the company will develop an EV in partnership with Honda. The car, named “Sony Honda Afeela 1”, will be available in its entry-level version for US$89,900 (€87,200) and will reach US$102,900 (about €99,830) for the top-tier model.
With the new car, Sony plans to enter the increasingly competitive EV market, currently dominated by BYD and Tesla. To name some new players in the market, Xiaomi and Huawei have launched their electric sedans in recent years. The cars entered the Chinese market amid a price war, with carmakers having to deal with razor-thin profit margins.
Aiming to have a chance in the EV market, Sony plans to make its money in the United States (US), where Honda is an established brand (having also the Acura brand in the country). Furthermore, showing Sony’s interest in the North American market, the carmaker revealed last year that it could procure EV batteries from the US.
The electric vehicle can already be reserved in California with a refundable deposit of US$200 (about €194) and will begin arriving for the first customers starting in 2026. In Japan, deliveries are also scheduled to begin that year.
Initially, its commercialization in Europe is not planned.
Afeela specs
The Sony Honda Afeela 1 is equipped with two 180 kW motors on each axle, which deliver a total of 482 HP and will feature all-wheel drive. Additionally, it has a range of up to 482 kilometers on a full charge. Moreover, it will connect to Tesla’s Supercharger network.
“Afeela 1 is developed for the era of autonomous driving. The EV can be called a buddy, combining advanced software with meticulously refined hardware,” says Yasuhide Mizuno, CEO at Sony Honda Mobility.
The car features a Level 2 semi-automatic driving system supported by 40 sensors, which include cameras, LiDAR, radars and ultrasonic sensors. This is behind the Level 3 autonomous system present in some modern EVs. However, Mizuno underscores that the car will be “constantly updated” in the coming years.
Regarding its design, the Afeela 1 is a nearly five-meter-long car with a futuristic style and a body made from recycled materials. The initial colour will be black, although a broader range of colours is expected to be available in the future.
Inside the cabin, Sony has integrated augmented reality technology, as well as a 360 spatial sound system. Additionally, it will be possible to stream video and update the car’s operating system Over-the-Air (OTA).
To those eager to try out the car, Sony has implemented a prototype of the EV in the video game Gran Turismo 7 for PlayStation 4 and 5.
