TL;DR
Sony Honda Mobility plans to start customer deliveries of the Afeela 1 EV in the US in late 2026, priced around $90,000. The joint venture also unveiled an SUV concept that could reach production as soon as 2028 and plans phased demo drives and expanded US sales next year.
What happened
Sony Honda Mobility (SHM), the joint venture between Sony and Honda, confirmed that customer deliveries of the Afeela 1 will begin in the United States in late 2026, with a reported price near $90,000. The company displayed an Afeela Prototype 2026 and an SUV concept described as an early-stage design that will help shape a production SUV targeted for as early as 2028. SHM has already started trial production of the Afeela 1 at Honda’s East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio and said it will offer phased demo drives to early reservation holders ahead of deliveries. The company plans to expand US sales beyond California to include Arizona in 2027, and Japanese deliveries are expected to start in early 2027. The Afeela emphasizes in-car entertainment and software, featuring wide dashboard screens, about 40 sensors and cameras for semi-autonomous assistance, all-wheel drive, and hints of augmented reality and game streaming integration.
Why it matters
- Moves the Sony-Honda project from concept demonstrations toward real customer deliveries, testing production and sales readiness.
- Signals Sony’s effort to integrate entertainment and gaming platforms directly into a production EV.
- Places Afeela into an already crowded premium EV market, where demand for $90,000-plus models has softened.
- Production activity at Honda’s Ohio plant underscores the role of established automakers and facilities in bringing new EV brands to market.
Key facts
- Afeela 1 customer deliveries in the US scheduled for late 2026.
- Reported price for the Afeela 1 is approximately $90,000.
- SHM showed an Afeela Prototype 2026 and an early-stage SUV concept intended to inform a production model by 2028.
- Trial production of the Afeela 1 has started at Honda’s East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio.
- SHM plans phased demo drives for early reservation holders before deliveries begin.
- US sales will expand to Arizona in 2027 in addition to California; Japanese deliveries are expected in early 2027.
- The Afeela features screens spanning the dashboard and is positioned around entertainment integration.
- Vehicle is reported to include roughly 40 sensors and cameras for semi-autonomous driving assistance and offers all-wheel drive.
- Sony has indicated PlayStation 5 owners will be able to stream games to the vehicle’s infotainment system.
- The Afeela will compete in a saturated premium EV segment alongside Tesla, Mercedes, Audi, and BMW.
What to watch next
- Whether SHM can meet the late-2026 US delivery timeline and how smoothly trial production scales to full production.
- Details on the SUV concept’s specifications, timeline and whether it reaches production as early as 2028.
- Consumer reception and sales performance in the premium EV segment amid cooling demand and strong competition.
- not confirmed in the source: detailed range, charging performance, production volumes and long-term pricing strategy
Quick glossary
- Joint venture: A business arrangement where two or more parties pool resources to accomplish a specific project or business activity while remaining separate legal entities.
- Prototype: An early sample or model built to test a concept or process before final production.
- Semi-autonomous driving: Driving systems that can assist with steering, acceleration, and braking under certain conditions but still require human supervision.
- Infotainment system: The integrated combination of information and entertainment features in a vehicle, typically including screens, audio, navigation and connectivity.
- Augmented reality (AR): Technology that overlays digital information or imagery onto the real-world environment, often through displays or cameras.
Reader FAQ
When will Afeela customer deliveries start in the US?
SHM said customer deliveries will begin in the US in late 2026.
How much will the Afeela 1 cost?
The Afeela 1 is reported to be priced at about $90,000.
Where is the Afeela being produced?
Trial production has started at Honda’s East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio.
Will there be an Afeela SUV?
SHM showed an SUV concept that it says may inform a production model as early as 2028.
What are the Afeela’s range and performance figures?
not confirmed in the source
TECH NEWS TRANSPORTATION Sony and Honda’s Afeela EV will start customer deliveries in late 2026 The joint venture also revealed an SUV concept that will go into production as early…
Sources
- Sony and Honda’s Afeela EV will start customer deliveries in late 2026
- January 06, 2026 Sony Honda Mobility World-Premieres …
- Sony Afeela at CES 2026: Live updates from the Sony …
- Sony Honda Mobility Built The First Production Afeela 1 In …
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