Afeela Is a New EV from Sony and Honda Coming to the U.S. in 2026

• Sony Honda Mobility, a three way partnership between the 2 Japanese corporations, has revealed a prototype of a good-looking new electrical sedan that it plans to promote within the U.S. as quickly as 2026.
• It is going to be a part of a brand new model known as Afeela, however we do not but know what identify the manufacturing model of this prototype will use.
• Afeela will begin taking orders in 2025, and says that deliveries will begin in North America in 2026.

Sony has entered the EV chat. After numerous fascinating electric-vehicle prototypes over the previous few years, the patron electronics large made its EV ambitions clear with the announcement of a brand new EV model known as Afeela at CES in Las Vegas.

Technically, the brand new EV idea comes from Sony Honda Mobility, a three way partnership between the 2 Japanese corporations. Collectively, they revealed the prototype of a good-looking new electrical sedan that they plan to promote within the U.S. as quickly as 2026. It is going to be a part of a brand new model known as Afeela, however we don’t but know what identify the manufacturing model of this prototype will use. Afeela will begin taking orders in 2025, and says that deliveries will begin in North America within the spring of 2026.

As you’d count on from an EV introduced by the electronics large, the prototype EV has a whopping 45 cameras and sensors positioned inside and out of doors the car. Paired with the 800 TOPS of most computing energy for ECU, the Afeela idea is greater than only a new manner to consider EVs. The EV embraces complete suites of next-generation software program, from Qualcomm Applied sciences’ Snapdragon Digital Chassis for ADAS and telematics options to a collaboration with Epic Video games on the leisure aspect of issues.

The idea itself is a comparatively standard-issue EV design with a low profile and aerodynamic wheels. Claiming that the EV idea is right here to “create a brand new worth normal for mobility,” Sony and Honda don’t need you to consider the automotive in conventional phrases like energy and efficiency. As an alternative, the highlights right here needs to be on “software program, networks, and consumer experiences.” In different phrases, areas the place Sony has some expertise.

Digital options within the idea will be modified by way of over-the-air updates, however Afeela’s preliminary statements embody the anticipated claims about autonomous driving and different connectivity options. Degree 3 automated driving will probably be provided “below restricted situations” with Degree 2 driver help obtainable in additional conditions, together with city driving.

Sony additionally plans to open up the EV to partnerships with clients and “our automotive trade companions,” Sony mentioned, with Qualcomm Applied sciences’ Snapdragon Digital Chassis system-on-a-chip offering the technological assist for this capacity. Again on planet Earth, we will see that the Afeela idea’s exterior makes use of a “Media Bar” to speak with close by people and the straightforward inside was designed to “[wrap] occupants in a gentle cocoon.”

Afeela isn’t Sony’s first idea EV, after all. The corporate unveiled the Imaginative and prescient-S at CES in 2020 and an up to date SUV model, the Imaginative and prescient-S 02, a 12 months in the past. Among the designers and engineers who labored on these autos additionally labored on the brand new Afeela idea, in line with Sony spokesperson Jun Koketsu. Whereas the missions have been completely different—the Afeela sedan is headed to manufacturing, whereas the Imaginative and prescient S fashions have been for experimenting.

“For the reason that members engaged on the Afeela got here from the Imaginative and prescient S, there are essence that’s inherited from the earlier challenge, nevertheless it’s not completely the identical,” Koketsu mentioned. A few of that essence is in what Koketsu known as a “impartial” design language.

“What this implies is that EVs imply clear vitality,” he mentioned. “So we wish to emphasize the cleanness and making an attempt to cut back the noise from the design,” Koketsu mentioned. “The highest finish resembles some softness, whereas the underside is extra about sharpness. So there’s a type of a distinction of softness and sharpness however the design idea itself is impartial.” Koketsu wouldn’t discuss any particular future Afeela designs, however did say that another fashions would share this three-pronged aesthetic.