Afeela 1: Sony and Honda’s first EV to launch in 2025
Sony and Honda have confirmed that their first electric car – the Afeela 1 – will go on sale in 2025.
The Afeela 1 is a pure EV born from a new joint venture called Sony Honda Mobility (SHM) and will cost from $89,900 when orders open later this year. However, international customers hoping to get their hands on the high-tech model will have to wait as the Afeela 1 will initially only be offered to buyers in California.
Deliveries to Californian customers will start in mid-2026, before the Ohio-built EV is offered to buyers in other US states. It will then go on sale in Sony and Honda’s native Japan later in 2026.
The Afeela 1 was shown in ‘near-production’ form at this year’s CES tech show in Las Vegas and represents the first in a range of models in the Afeela range, which its makers say aims to ‘redefine the relationship between people and mobility’.
To that end, the 4.9m-long saloon features advanced driver assistance including cutting-edge Lidar technology, an interactive ‘personal assistant’ and multiple displays for the driver and passengers.
Technical details for the Afeela 1 are scarce at the moment but SHM says it will offer a range of around 300 miles. It is believed that the Afeela 1 is based on the same platform as Honda’s upcoming 0 Series cars and will feature dual motors offering almost 500bhp, and drive-by-wire technology.
The Afeela 1 will be sold in two trim levels – the $89,900 Afeela 1 Origin, and the $102,900 Afeela 1 Signature. Both models will come with a three-year subscription to a package of features including the Afeela Intelligent Drive ADAS technology. This uses 40 sensors including cameras, LiDAR, radars and ultrasonic sensors to offer semi-autonomous driving.
The package also includes the Afeela ‘Personal Agent’, which the brand claims will be able to converse naturally with occupants and control vehicle functions via voice command. The Afeela 1 also gets a range of content apps to allow video and music streaming to multiple screens around the vehicle.
Reflecting SHM’s sustainability goals, the interior is finished in 70% recycled materials and comes with cutting-edge noise cancelling technology for a refined drive. Interior images also revealed a yoke-style steering wheel and simple button-less cabin design which Afeela says is intended to create a ‘harmonious and timeless’ ambience.
While SHM has confirmed the Afeela 1 will be sold in the US and Japan, there is no indication about if or when it might reach other markets, including the UK and Europe.
