Sony-Honda JV Poised To Debut 3 EVs By 2030

Sony Honda Mobility's updated Afeela concept EV saloon shown earlier this year during CES 2024. It seems the Afeela brand will soon expand and see three models readyb y 2030.

Having shown its updated Afeela concept EV sedan earlier this year during the annual CES 2024 expo, it appears that the Sony Honda Mobility joint venture is poised to expand its line-up further by debuting least three EV models in total by 2030.

Formed in 2022, Sony Honda Mobility saw Honda combining its engineering and manufacturing prowess with the software and gaming expertise of electronics giant Sony to catch up with rivals in the EV space.

A production version of the concept sedan mentioned will firstly go on sale in 2025 with deliveries beginning in 2026. Following which, a smaller more affordable ‘compact’ model will reportedly arrive sometime in 2028 or later, whilst an SUV will debut before which in 2027.

Additionally, all three EVs, which are set to be marketed under the Afeela banner, will reportedly be manufactured in North America. Reports online further claims that these will bolster Sony Honda Mobility further as it mounts a challenge against Tesla, especially in North America.

The expansion is set to see the production-bound version of this concept EV sedan joined by both a 'compact' and SUV offshoot. All three will then reportedly be marketed undert he joint venture's Afeela brand.

The Afeela concept EV sedan was recently updated with OpenAI and Unreal Engine 5 software.

Officials from said JV remain tight-lipped on the matter, but did confirm the intent to explore its future line-up further. “We continue to explore our future lineup. However, at this moment we cannot disclose anything apart from what has been announced,” reportedly said one spokesperson.

Details for both the upcoming SUV and ‘compact’ models remains scant as a result, but their rumoured planned development signifies the serious intent of this joint venture in the booming EV and self-driving vehicle market spaces.

These new expansion rumours follows up from Sony Honda Mobility’s recent efforts detailing  the Afeela concept EV sedan’s renewed tech. Central to which is the adoption of OpenAI artificial-intelligence tech – the same behind ChatGPT – powering its on board voice assistant feature.

Next to which comes the concept’s adoption of the video game industry’s renowned Unreal Engine 5 software to power its in-car visuals – things like surrounding vehicles, as well as pedestrians and terrain detected by cameras primed on board.