NewCarsData.com – Honda and Sony are developing new electric vehicles, reports from Asian news agency stated that the two Japanese giant will release three new electric vehicles.
Under The ‘cheap’ compact vehicle program, which aims to compete with Tesla’s appeal in the US, an SUV, and a sedan are reportedly part of the Japanese auto and electronics giant’s first electric lineup.
By 2030, the joint company between Sony and Honda Mobility plans to launch its first three electric cars. The Japanese auto and electronics behemoth intends to introduce a sedan, an SUV, and a compact vehicle under the ‘Afeela’ name, according to news source Nikkei Asia.
Pre-orders for the Afeela sedan, which is expected to be build in North America, are expected to begin in the first half of 2025, ahead of the car’s scheduled US delivery in 2026, as previously reported by Drive.
The ‘cheap’ compact model of the car is expected to launch in 2028 or later, while the unidentified SUV is slated for 2027, according to a report from Nikkei Asia. The Asian news agency stated that all three Afeela vehicles aim to compete with Tesla’s ubiquity in the US market.
Regarding the specifics of these speculated electric cars, company representatives are keeping quiet. A spokesman for Sony Honda Mobility told news source Reuters that the company is “continually exploring our future lineup.” We are unable to reveal anything more at this time than what has already been disclosed, though.
This information is related to the Afeela electric vehicle, which was previously revealed by Sony Honda Mobility to contain an OpenAI artificial intelligence system in the driver’s voice assistant. OpenAI is the same system that runs ChatGPT.
Moreover, Sony Honda Mobility has announced that the in-car display of nearby vehicles, pedestrians, and landscapes captured by the car’s cameras will be driven by Unreal Engine 5, the same software employed in well-known video games like Fortnite and Mortal Kombat.
It is reported that Afeela’s electric vehicles can be controlled using the PlayStation 5 joystick. These innovations not only include controlling the car from the outside, but also change the way drivers and passengers interact with in-vehicle entertainment.
Afeela’s car is not just an ordinary electric vehicle. By utilizing the PS5 joystick, drivers can control car functions such as navigation, music system and other features, providing a unique and exciting driving experience. This marks a major step in the adoption of entertainment technology in the automotive industry.
