It’s happened again: Sony and Honda Afeela EVs cancelled at the 11th hour
The Afeela 1 saloon and Afeela 2 SUV have been killed off by Sony Honda Mobility (SHM), a joint venture formed by the two parties to create a high-end, tech-led EV brand.
In a joint statement issued today, Sony and Honda said they have decided to cancel both Afeela cars, which were set to be manufactured at Honda’s East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio. The Afeela 1 was already in pre-production, while its higher-riding sibling was set to hit the market by 2028.
The Afeela 1 and 2 were scrapped due to cited “changes to the [EV] market” and Honda’s bombshell move to cancel its own range of Series 0 EVs at the last minute. Had the Acura RSX, the Honda 0 Series Saloon and SUV made it to market, they would have been built around a software-defined, EV-only architecture developed by the Japanese carmaker.
Both Afeela models would have also benefited from certain Honda technologies and assets. However, given Honda’s 11th-hour decision to scrap its dedicated EV platform, SHM can no longer progress with the project.
The Afeela 1 and 2 were expected to adopt the same 482bhp twin-motor setup, paired with a 91kWh lithium-ion battery returning a mediocre 300-mile range. The 150kW fast-charging speed was equally as lacklustre compared to what would have been one of the Afeela 2’s biggest rivals, the BMW iX3.
Launched earlier this year, the iX3 has a 400kW charging speed and up to 500 miles of range. Packed with Sony-developed tech, including hands-free, eyes-off driving, other premium Afeela rivals would have included the new BMW i3, the latest Volvo EX60, and the upcoming Polestar 2.
Upon announcing its 0 Series range of EVs was dead, Honda admitted that “it was unable to deliver products that offer value for money better than that of newer EV manufacturers, resulting in a decline in competitiveness”.
In short, Honda was unable to keep up with the ultra-rapid pace of change in the EV world, match newcomers from China, and develop its own competitive software-defined vehicle (SDV). It is estimated that the cancellation of Honda’s latest EV project has cost them up to $15.7 billion USD – around £11.8bn.
