Sony Honda Mobility has launched its AFEELA 1 EV on the Client Electronics Present, lastly giving a (practically) full unveil to the automotive that’s anticipated to go on sale in California in 2026.
Sony has been teasing us with an EV venture for years now, beginning again in 2020 with a shock unveil at its CES keynote. On the time, it was referred to as the VISION-S venture and we thought there was no approach it might occur… however later Sony partnered with Honda, then the automotive received the title “AFEELA” in 2023, and a 2026 launch date.
At the moment Sony gave us one other annual replace of its AFEELA automobile, although centered its keynote much less on it than it has previously. The roughly 6 minute section of its CES keynote devoted to the automotive didn’t inform us an entire lot of recent data in comparison with previous years, but it surely did give us maybe a very powerful data but: pricing and availability.
The massive information right this moment is that the automotive will probably be referred to as the AFEELA 1, and reservations at the moment are open at $200 a pop, with a base value of $89,900 for the “Origin” trim, and $102,900 for the “Signature” trim.
Sony didn’t inform us rather more concerning the distinction between these trim ranges, however there’s a quick rundown out there on the AFEELA web site. The extra $13k for the Signature trim will get you extra coloration selections, rear screens (which you’ll see in our hands-on of the automobile prototype), a digital camera rear-view mirror, and bigger wheels.
However, maybe extra importantly, it additionally will get you the automotive a 12 months earlier, in “mid 2026,” whereas the Origin collection is simply out there in 2027 (unusually, the original vehicles is not going to have the origin trim).
However we might study extra later, as the positioning additionally claims that “options might fluctuate.” That is definitely not a full spec sheet, so we’re anticipating to study extra as time goes on.
In earlier keynotes, Sony has touted its experience in software program and leisure and mentioned that that may assist them make a automobile that higher integrates automobile software program to supply leisure for passengers and steerage for drivers by its “AFEELA private agent” and digital drivers aids (and 45 sensors for potential autonomous driving duties).
One in every of tonight’s demos included Sony Honda Mobility CEO Yasuhide Mizuno exhibiting off Sony’s “private agent” options by speaking to the automotive by his cellphone, after which the automotive got here out on stage, and later left stage in the identical method. Final 12 months, Sony drove the automotive on stage with a PS5 controller. Sony didn’t promise that this may develop into a manufacturing function, merely referring to it as a tech demo.
Sony additionally specified that its “private agent” and autonomous drive options will probably be subscription-based, with a 3-year “complimentary subscription” included together with the automotive, however no data on how a lot it might value after that. Sony mentioned that that is “topic to alter” – and given the detrimental public response that some automotive subscription charges have gotten, we predict there’s an affordable probability that change will come.
However there’s yet another catch from right this moment’s presentation: to date, reservations are solely open in California.
That is one thing a number of corporations have completed earlier than, as a result of California is the state with probably the most EVs – and in addition the strictest emissions guidelines.
These strict emissions guidelines require extra EV gross sales than many different states, so corporations typically select to promote EVs in California to assist offset the emissions of their different, extra polluting gasoline autos. This has led to the phrase “compliance automotive,” referring to compliance with California’s EV guidelines, to explain vehicles which can be centered extra on assembly rules than on being a critical 50-state effort by an automaker.
Whereas Sony doesn’t have any emissions to offset, Honda does. Honda solely lately began promoting EVs within the US with the Prologue, which is promoting fairly properly throughout many states, not simply California.
So, it’s a bit bizarre that both of those corporations would focus solely on California, because it doesn’t look like both of them have to fret about compliance. We reached out to determine what the timeline can be for different states, and can replace you if we discover out something new.
Reservations for the AFEELA 1 are $200 and absolutely refundable, and will be made on AFEELA’s web site now – when you’re in California.
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