Sony Honda Mobility has launched its AFEELA 1 EV on the Shopper Electronics Present, lastly giving a (almost) full unveil to the automotive that’s anticipated to go on sale in California in 2026.
Sony has been teasing us with an EV undertaking for years now, beginning again in 2020 with a shock unveil at its CES keynote. On the time, it was known as the VISION-S undertaking and we thought there was no means it could occur… however later Sony partnered with Honda, then the automotive acquired the title “AFEELA” in 2023, and a 2026 launch date.
In the present day Sony gave us one other annual replace of its AFEELA automobile, although centered its keynote much less on it than it has up to now. The roughly 6 minute section of its CES keynote devoted to the automotive didn’t inform us a complete lot of recent data in comparison with previous years, however it did give us maybe an important data but: pricing and availability.
The large information as we speak is that the automotive will probably be known as the AFEELA 1, and reservations are actually open at $200 a pop, with a base worth 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 accessible on the AFEELA web site. The extra $13k for the Signature trim will get you extra coloration decisions, 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 sequence is just accessible in 2027 (surprisingly, the original vehicles is not going to have the origin trim).
However we could study extra later, as the positioning additionally claims that “options could differ.” 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 way of its “AFEELA private agent” and digital drivers aids (and 45 sensors for potential autonomous driving duties).
Considered one of tonight’s demos included Sony Honda Mobility CEO Yasuhide Mizuno displaying off Sony’s “private agent” options by speaking to the automotive by way of 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 grow to be a manufacturing characteristic, 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 could price after that. Sony mentioned that that is “topic to alter” – and given the unfavourable public response that some automotive subscription charges have gotten, we expect there’s an affordable probability that change will come.
However there’s another catch from as we speak’s presentation: up to now, reservations are solely open in California.
That is one thing numerous corporations have carried out earlier than, as a result of California is the state with essentially the most EVs – and likewise the strictest emissions guidelines.
These strict emissions guidelines require extra EV gross sales than many different states, so corporations usually select to promote EVs in California to assist offset the emissions of their different, extra polluting gasoline automobiles. 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 nicely 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 appear to be both of them have to fret about compliance. We reached out to determine what the timeline could be for different states, and can replace you if we discover out something new.
Reservations for the AFEELA 1 are $200 and totally refundable, and might be made on AFEELA’s web site now – in case you’re in California.
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