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 venture 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 venture and we thought there was no approach it could occur… however later Sony partnered with Honda, then the automotive acquired the title “AFEELA” in 2023, and a 2026 launch date.
Right this moment Sony gave us one other annual replace of its AFEELA car, although targeted its keynote much less on it than it has previously. The roughly 6 minute phase of its CES keynote devoted to the automotive didn’t inform us an entire lot of latest data in comparison with previous years, nevertheless it did give us maybe crucial data but: pricing and availability.
The large information as we speak is that the automotive will likely 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 far more in regards to the distinction between these trim ranges, however there’s a brief rundown obtainable on the AFEELA web site. The extra $13k for the Signature trim will get you extra shade selections, rear screens (which you’ll see in our hands-on of the car 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 obtainable in 2027 (unusually, the original automobiles won’t have the origin trim).
However we could be taught extra later, as the location additionally claims that “options could fluctuate.” That is actually not a full spec sheet, so we’re anticipating to be taught 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 car that higher integrates car software program to offer leisure for passengers and steering for drivers via its “AFEELA private agent” and digital drivers aids (and 45 sensors for potential autonomous driving duties).
Certainly one of tonight’s demos included Sony Honda Mobility CEO Yasuhide Mizuno exhibiting off Sony’s “private agent” options by speaking to the automotive via 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 might 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 likely 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 destructive public response that some automotive subscription charges have gotten, we predict 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 a variety of corporations have performed earlier than, as a result of California is the state with probably the most EVs – and likewise 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 automobiles. This has led to the phrase “compliance automotive,” referring to compliance with California’s EV guidelines, to explain automobiles which are targeted extra on assembly laws 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 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 – for those who’re in California.
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