Sony Honda Mobility has launched its AFEELA 1 EV on the Client 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 obtained the identify “AFEELA” in 2023, and a 2026 launch date.
At the moment Sony gave us one other annual replace of its AFEELA car, although targeted its keynote much less on it than it has up to now. The roughly 6 minute phase of its CES keynote devoted to the automotive didn’t inform us a complete lot of latest data in comparison with previous years, nevertheless it did give us maybe a very powerful data but: pricing and availability.
The massive information right this moment is that the automotive can be known as the AFEELA 1, and reservations at the moment are 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 far 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 colour decisions, rear screens (which you’ll be able to see in our hands-on of the car prototype), a digicam 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 simply accessible in 2027 (unusually, the original vehicles won’t have the origin trim).
However we might study extra later, as the location additionally claims that “options might fluctuate.” That is actually 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 can assist them make a car that higher integrates car software program to offer 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 telephone, 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 could turn out to be a manufacturing characteristic, merely referring to it as a tech demo.
Sony additionally specified that its “private agent” and autonomous drive options can be subscription-based, with a 3-year “complimentary subscription” included together with the automotive, however no data on how a lot it could value 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 yet one more catch from right this moment’s presentation: to date, reservations are solely open in California.
That is one thing a number of firms 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 firms 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 are targeted extra on assembly rules than on being a severe 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 firms 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 absolutely refundable, and might be made on AFEELA’s web site now – should you’re in California.
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