Sony and Honda's new Afeela electric car to start at $89,900, but only for buyers in California

What's more special is that Sony Honda Mobility CEO Yasuhide Mizuno summoned the Afeela onstage by saying the voice command “Come on out, Afeela” into his phone

Updated on: Jan 7, 2025, 08:30:44 IST

By HT News Desk | Edited by Abhyjith K. Ashokan

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Sony and Honda have teamed up to build a new electric vehicle (EV) called the 'Afeela,' opening it for pre-orders at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas on January 7, 2025.

The Afeela will come in two trims; The Afeela 1 Origin, costing $89,900 and the Afeela 1 Signature, costing $102,900, revealed Sony Honda Mobility, the company formed as a result of the joint venture (shm-afeela.com)

The car, which has been in development for the last five years, will will initially go on sale only in California, according to a report by The Verge.

Also Read: Who is Vinay Hiremath, Indian-origin co-founder who sold startup for $975 million?

The Afeela will come in two trims; The Afeela 1 Origin, costing $89,900 and the Afeela 1 Signature, costing $102,900, revealed Sony Honda Mobility, the company formed as a result of the joint venture.

Both of these trim levels will also include a complimentary three-year subscription to a variety of in-car features, which includes the company’s Level 2+ driver assist as well as an AI-powered personal assistant.

It gets up to 300 miles of EPA-estimated range, as well as built-in support for Tesla’s Supercharger network.

At the moment, the Afeela only appears to be available in “Core Black,” and customers can anticipate a faster delivery for the more expensive Signature trim which will start from 2026, while the lesser expensive Origin would require a wait till 2027.

Also Read: Amit Banerji, co-founder of workspace operator Table Space, dies of heart attack at 44

The EV also boasts screens across the width of its dashboard, 40 sensors and cameras which allow for semi-autonomous driving assistance, all-wheel drive, and also possibly hints at augmented reality integration and “virtual worlds” embedded into the driving experience.

What's more special is that Sony Honda Mobility CEO Yasuhide Mizuno summoned the vehicle onstage by saying the voice command “Come on out, Afeela” into his phone.

However, he had also said it was a “tech demo for this showcase,” so it’s unclear if voice commands will become a production feature.

The Afeela is a result of Sony's Vision concept introduced first in 2020.

Also Read: FM Nirmala Sitharaman concludes month-long stakeholder discussion for Union Budget

Since then, EV demand has spiked, flatlined, and stabilised, China became a dominant EV producer prompting Honda to merge with Nissan to better compete, and in the US, the Biden administration introduced generous incentives for EV buyers which are likely to get eliminated by the incoming Trump administration, according to the report.

Sony Honda Mobility will also be announcing the details on shopping for and owning an Afeela tomorrow.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Stay updated with the latest Business News, stock market updates, petrol and diesel prices, gold and silver rates, income tax updates and major developments from India and across the world.