Sony and Honda have combined forces to bring a new electric car. The newly unveiled Afeela EV aims to take on Tesla.
Sony Group Corp. and Honda Motor Co. have decided to combine their expertise to offer futuristic electric cars. This partnership has already unveiled its first prototype at Sony’s CES press conference in Las Vegas. “Cars bearing the new marque will capitalize on the expertise of Sony Group Corp. and Honda Motor Co.”, said Yasuhide Mizuno, Sony Honda Mobility Chief Executive Officer. Additionally, the joint venture is collaborating with Qualcomm Inc. and Epic Games Inc. to enable 5G connectivity and entertainment. Let’s take a closer look at the new Afeela EV.
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Sony Honda Electric Car to Challenge Tesla
With the new Afeela EV, Sony Honda Mobility Inc aims to challenge Tesla Inc. The new sedan features 45 sensors, including cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors. It will get constant updates. To enable this, Qualcomm is designing Snapdragon Digital Chassis. “It is a software-defined vehicle,” said Cristiano Amon, CEO, Qualcomm. The joint venture will launch all its electric vehicles under the brand Afeela. Just like Tesla cars, all units will keep getting regular updates.
Tesla Inc. was the first to offer connected vehicle experiences. It enhances this with the regular addition of games and features over the years. While Tesla has a huge advantage as an earlier entrant, the electric car segment is quite crowded now. Hence, new entrants are now following the Tesla model and collaborating with electronics firms. Honda hopes to combine its car manufacturing capabilities with Sony’s knowledge of entertainment, networking, and sensors. This will reduce the development times for smart electric vehicles. Even European automakers like Volkswagen AG are following this path.
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Sony Also Partners with Epic Games
The Sony Honda Mobility Inc was officially launched in October this year. The joint venture plans to deliver premium EVs in North America and Japan. The first car models are expected to be launched in 2026. Alongside Qualcomm Inc., Sony Honda Mobility Inc has also partnered with Epic Games. Epic Games Inc. will work with Sony Honda to bring enhance user experience. “Epic Games will work with Sony Honda to help deliver connected automotive experiences that lead the way not only in visual communication and safety but also entertainment,” said Kim Libreri, Chief Technology Officer, Epic Games.
