We’ll See An Updated Sony-Honda Afeela Prototype At CES

The electrical car three way partnership between Sony and Honda, dubbed Afeela, remains to be on monitor to launch in 2025 forward of 2026 deliveries.
It is a software-driven electrical sedan, constructed by Honda in Ohio and powered by a library of Sony video video games, films and different leisure content material. 
The ultimate specs are unknown, however we’ll see extra at CES 2025 in January.

Honda could also be late to the sport with electrical autos, but it surely’s acquired aggressive plans to catch up quick that embody an enormous manufacturing hub in Ohio and many new applied sciences developed in-house. However the wild card in that plan is its surprising tie-up with Japanese client electronics and leisure big Sony, which is able to yield a brand new electrical model referred to as Afeela.

Does the title sound a bit foolish? Positive, however the finish product goals to not be. Afeela appears to be working an identical playbook because the Chinese language EVs that at present have the remainder of the business spooked: numerous screens, numerous software program integration and superior options like hands-off automated driving help. The Afeela sedan prototype was unveiled at CES in 2023 and it confirmed off some AI-driven know-how at this 12 months’s occasion. 

Now, Sony Honda Mobility officers inform InsideEVs that we are going to see an up to date model of the sedan prototype in lower than two months from now, at CES 2025. At a tour of the prototype in New York at this time, Motorsport Community’s Automotive Social Media Supervisor Maddox Kay discovered that an developed variant of the automotive will certainly debut on the tech commerce present. Officers additionally confirmed that the prototype on show could be a brand new model of this sedan, not essentially the SUV and smaller EV that Afeela has alluded to—although who is aware of what else the corporate has in retailer.

That is all we all know for now. However Afeela has beforehand advised us somewhat bit about what it goals to do with the automotive when it goes into manufacturing. It is anticipated to be powered by a pretty big 91 kWh lithium-ion battery with dual-motor all-wheel-drive good for a minimum of 400 horsepower.

Afeela has by no means acknowledged a focused electrical vary, however the model has talked about 150 kW DC quick charging—midpack at greatest by what we’ll count on of automobiles in 2026, so maybe that may see an improve in some unspecified time in the future. It is also confirmed to make use of a Tesla-style North American Charging Normal plug from the manufacturing unit and have entry to the Tesla Supercharger community natively. 

Arguably the true get together might be contained in the Afeela. The automotive is loaded with screens, together with a panoramic that spans the dashboard and two dealing with the rear passengers. It has built-in leisure content material from the huge Sony library, with Qualcomm chips powering in-car films like Spider-Man: No Manner House, PlayStation 5 distant play (together with a gaming controller that is additionally been used to drive the prototype) and a software program ecosystem designed for “creators.” Consider it as a PlayStation on wheels, or Sony’s tackle what the Apple Automobile might need been if it had ended up with a steering wheel. Or existed in any respect, reasonably. 

Extra crucially, it appears to me just like the Afeela model, expertise and heavy emphasis on software program and in-car leisure are Japan’s reply to the sorts of cutting-edge EVs we see popping out of China currently. These are glossy, high-range EVs—typically sedans, too—that go heavy on touchscreens as an alternative of buttons and are filled with streaming options and even video video games to get pleasure from whereas parked or charging. The identical is true for the deliberate hands-free automated driving options. Whereas the Japanese automakers have been late to the EV sport, they’re spooked by the rise of China currently, and the remainder of Japan Inc.—say, Sony or Panasonic, for instance—are equally scared about shedding out on the longer term. So whereas it is a large leap to say that Afeela might take down rising titans like Xiaomi or BYD, a three way partnership that mixes Sony’s software program and leisure dominance with Honda’s carmaking know-how is only one instance of the place the business is headed subsequent. 

However will it truly go into manufacturing? I am barely much less satisfied of that. Whereas making the Afeela EV at Honda’s new manufacturing unit definitely is sensible, launching a completely new and unproven model may very well be a distinct proposition in 2026, particularly if we see adjustments to issues like EV tax credit underneath the brand new presidential administration. And there is definitely the query of whether or not American patrons will need a type of Chinese language-style software-defined car when that market feels to date forward of our personal. No costs have been introduced for the Afeela EV but, but it surely’s been anticipated to start out round $50,000. It might make extra sense for Sony to combine these applied sciences into current manufacturers and EV’s, together with those Honda is cooking up.

For now, a minimum of, the three way partnership says it is on monitor to truly promote some automobiles, with manufacturing slated to start late subsequent 12 months. Hopefully, we’ll study extra at CES in January. 

Contact the writer: patrick.george@insideevs.com