Sony and Honda, who announced a joint venture last year to develop and produce electric vehicles, have revealed the name of their new automotive brand: Afeela.
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Yasuhide Mizuno, CEO of Sony Honda Mobility, presented the prototype of the company’s first vehicle. The car resembles a standard sedan, but Mizuno disclosed a few details about it. According to him, the car will be available for pre-order and purchase in 2025, but deliveries to North America are expected no earlier than 2026. The vehicles will be manufactured at one of Honda’s factories.
Mizuno stated that the car will feature Honda’s safety and driver-assistance systems, along with Sony’s entertainment and interactive technologies. The development process emphasized software, user interface technology, driving dynamics, and performance.
Above the car’s front bumper is a slim external display screen, which the company calls the Media Bar. According to Mizuno, this feature allows the car to display information and interact with people outside the vehicle.
The company is utilizing Unreal Engine technology from Epic Games (the creators of Fortnite) to design the car’s interfaces. Unreal Engine has also been employed by other automakers, including General Motors, which used it for the Hummer EV. Mizuno added that the car will include numerous entertainment options.