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 mission 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 mission and we thought there was no manner it could occur… however later Sony partnered with Honda, then the automotive acquired the title “AFEELA” in 2023, and a 2026 launch date.
At present Sony gave us one other annual replace of its AFEELA automobile, although centered its keynote much less on it than it has prior to now. The roughly 6 minute phase of its CES keynote devoted to the automotive didn’t inform us a complete lot of recent info in comparison with previous years, nevertheless it did give us maybe an important info but: pricing and availability.
The massive information in the present day is that the automotive shall 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 rather more concerning the distinction between these trim ranges, however there’s a brief rundown accessible on the AFEELA web site. The extra $13k for the Signature trim will get you extra colour selections, rear screens (which you’ll be able to 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 yr earlier, in “mid 2026,” whereas the Origin collection is simply accessible in 2027 (unusually, the original vehicles won’t have the origin trim).
However we could be taught extra later, as the positioning additionally claims that “options could range.” That is definitely 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 stated that that may assist them make a automobile that higher integrates automobile 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).
One in all 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 yr, Sony drove the automotive on stage with a PS5 controller. Sony didn’t promise that this may turn into a manufacturing function, merely referring to it as a tech demo.
Sony additionally specified that its “private agent” and autonomous drive options shall be subscription-based, with a 3-year “complimentary subscription” included together with the automotive, however no info on how a lot it could value after that. Sony stated that that is “topic to alter” – and given the unfavorable public response that some automotive subscription charges have gotten, we predict there’s an affordable likelihood that change will come.
However there’s another catch from in the present day’s presentation: to date, reservations are solely open in California.
That is one thing a number of firms have finished 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 firms typically select to promote EVs in California to assist offset the emissions of their different, extra polluting fuel automobiles. This has led to the phrase “compliance automotive,” referring to compliance with California’s EV guidelines, to explain vehicles which are 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 just 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 look like 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 could be made on AFEELA’s web site now – if you happen to’re in California.
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