Sony Honda’s Afeela Automated Car Launching This Year; Starting at $90K

Sony Honda Mobility has confirmed that its first-ever car, the Afeela 1, is finally available to preorder.

After first revealing a sedan concept at CES way back in 2020, the Japanese giants’ joint venture has made slow progress to the showroom, with a further SUV concept appearing in 2022, before further updates in 2023 and 2024.

Now, though, the model is set to be offered in North America, with sales starting in California later this year and deliveries likely in 2026. 

Two specifications were confirmed: the Afeela 1 Origin, which will retail for $89,900 and the Afeela 1 Signature, which weighs in at $102,900.

It’s the higher-spec Signature which will be delivered next year, with the Origin following “at a later date.” Plans for sales in the other states have not yet been confirmed, although Japan is pencilled in for 2026.

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As has been expected from the outset of the project, tech and automation are major features of the Afeela 1 and both specifications come with a complimentary three-year subscription to a variety of functions and features, including driver assistance and an AI-powered personal assistant.

This focus on tech will be an ongoing theme as the model evolves with Sony-Honda describing the Afeela 1 as “a new form of mobility that remains closely connected to people through collaboration with creators and ongoing software updates.” 

Related:CES 2022: Sony Gets Serious About the Electric Vehicle Business

The Afeela 1’s “Intelligent Drive” is delivered via 40 sensors including cameras, radars, lidar and ultrasonic sensors in tandem with AI and an ECU that has computing power of up to 800 TOPS. 

Credit: Sony Honda Mobility

According to Sony Honda, this means: “From the departure point to parking at the destination, it reduces the driver’s burden with an end-to-end route.” What that actually materializes as, though, remains to be seen, because it’s understood that the car currently only offers automation rated at Level 2 by the Society of Automotive Engineers. 

In the cabin, the AI assistant – Afeela Personal Agent – can suggest activities and engage in conversation, while voice controls operate some of the key functions.

And as you would imagine of a car with Sony involvement, the infotainment promises to be high-class, with top-quality audio thanks to the firm’s 360 Spatial Sound tech, a massive digital display that spans the whole length of the dash, apps and content provided by the company’s established entertainment partners and graphics created using gaming tool Unreal Engine.

Related:Sony Honda Automotive Brand to Use Microsoft AI, CES 2024

While the tech is comprehensive, those who actually plan on driving the Afeela One might be slightly surprised that it is likely to come with only a 300-mile range from the 91 kWh battery, plus a peak fast-charging rate of 150 kW, which isn’t hugely competitive for an electric car in this price territory.