Honda and Sony will begin delivering their first co-developed EV, the Afeela 1, later this year. The joint venture revealed a new electric SUV prototype that could steal the spotlight.
Honda and Sony are launching an electric SUV
Honda and Sony’s joint venture, Sony Honda Mobility (SHM), showcased their second EV at CES 2026 this week, the Afeela Prototype 2026.
Although it’s still a prototype, the company confirmed plans to launch a production model in the US as early as 2028.
The electric SUV builds on the Afeela 1, a sedan, offering more interior space and advanced new technology. It looks about the same as the sedan, retaining a nearly identical front-end design, but it sits a bit higher with a more crossover-SUV-like profile.
Sony Honda Mobility confirmed plans to begin delivering the Afeela 1 in the US later this year. It will arrive in California in late 2026, followed by Arizona and Japan in 2027.
Reservations opened in California in January 2025. The following month, the company opened the first Afeela Studio showrooms. In just under a year, over 100,000 people have visited the showrooms with more than 24,000 in-vehicle demos.
Over the next few months, the company plans to open Afeela Studio and Delivery Hubs in Torrance and Fremont, California.
Early reservation holders will be offered to join the Afeela Advanced Access program, which will include demo drives later this year. The joint venture began trial production last fall at Honda’s East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio as it prepares for mass production.
According to SHM, the Afeela 1 is more than just an EV. It “redefines the relationship between people and mobility by integrating advanced software and high-performance hardware.”
Top comment by Rein
Meanwhile Xiaomi is about to launch a couple more vehicles all while building over 400,000 last year. They are aiming for 550,000 this year before expanding into Europe next year where they just opened a R&D center. Apple gave up early and it’s looking like Sony should have too if they think they are going to sell vehicles at that price.
It will include access to Sony’s entertainment platform, including the ability to play PlayStation 5 directly on the vehicle’s infotainment system (We got a chance to check it out).
It’s also equipped with 40 sensors, including 18 cameras, 1 LiDAR, 9 Radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors to provide new Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features through its Afeela Intelligent Drive system.
Although it sounds promising, the electric sedan won’t be cheap. The Signature trim, arriving later this year, starts at $102,900 while the Origin, set to launch in 2027, is priced from $89,900. Reservations are available on Afeela’s website with a $200 refundable deposit.
Can Honda and Sony’s joint venture compete with Tesla and luxury automakers in the US? It might have a better chance with the SUV arriving in 2028. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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