Sony Honda Afeela 1 Debuts in US Showroom
Sony Honda Mobility unveils the ‘Afeela 1’ electric sedan at its first United States showroom in Beverly Hills, California, positioning the vehicle as a premium competitor in the midsize EV segment with advanced media integration and Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities. Priced starting at $80,000, the sedan features a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system producing 400 horsepower and an estimated 300-mile EPA range from a 92 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. This launch arrives as United States electric vehicle sales decline 30 percent year-over-year in October to 74,835 units, per Cox Automotive data, following the September 30 expiration of the $7,500 federal tax credit.
The ‘Afeela 1’ employs Sony’s vision-sensing technology, including eight 360-degree cameras with 5-megapixel resolution and a 12 ultrasonic sensor array for 360-degree perception up to 200 meters. Its e-Axle propulsion system, co-developed with Honda, achieves a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds and supports 350 kW DC fast-charging to add 150 miles in 15 minutes via CCS connectors. Production begins at Honda’s Marysville, Ohio facility in mid-2026, with initial annual capacity of 30,000 units for North American markets. The vehicle’s 0.22 drag coefficient optimizes efficiency, aided by active grille shutters and 19-inch aerodynamic wheels.
Interior highlights include a 28-inch curved OLED display spanning the dashboard, powered by Sony’s Spatial Sound Mapping for 64-speaker audio immersion, and integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto over 5G connectivity. The cabin accommodates five passengers with 42 inches of rear legroom and 15 cubic feet of trunk space, expandable to 50 cubic feet via 60/40 folding seats. Safety systems incorporate Honda Sensing Elite, enabling hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways at speeds up to 80 mph, with redundant computing clusters processing 4 terabytes of data per hour.
Sony Honda’s joint venture, formed in 2022 with equal 50 percent stakes, invests $2.5 billion in United States manufacturing to meet domestic content requirements for potential state incentives. The ‘Afeela 1’ targets urban professionals, offering over-the-air updates for features like augmented reality navigation projecting turn-by-turn cues onto the windshield. Pre-production prototypes underwent 1.2 million miles of testing across California, Nevada, and Michigan, focusing on edge cases such as fog and construction zones.
Competitive positioning pits the ‘Afeela 1’ against the ‘Tesla Model S’ base model at $74,990 with 405 miles of range and the ‘Polestar 2’ at $49,900 delivering 320 miles. Sony’s entertainment ecosystem includes PlayStation Network access for rear passengers and cloud gaming during charging sessions up to 30 minutes. Deliveries commence in spring 2026 for reservation holders, with a $500 refundable deposit via the Sony Honda app.
This debut coincides with broader industry shifts, where average electric vehicle transaction prices reach $48,000 versus $37,000 for gasoline models, according to Kelley Blue Book. Manufacturers respond with incentives averaging $13,161 on EVs in October, up $2,211 year-over-year. The Beverly Hills facility spans 10,000 square feet, showcasing interactive configurators and demo drives on a 2-mile closed course simulating Los Angeles traffic.
Projections from S&P Global Mobility estimate United States EV market share stabilizing at 9 percent in 2026 before rising to 26 percent by 2035, driven by battery costs falling to $80 per kWh. Sony Honda plans three additional models by 2028, including a crossover SUV with 500 horsepower. Infrastructure advancements, such as Electrify America’s 4,000th charger added in November, support adoption amid range anxiety concerns.
The ‘Afeela 1’ emphasizes sustainability with 85 percent recycled interior materials and a carbon-neutral production target by 2030. Its bidirectional charging exports up to 11 kW to power home appliances, aligning with California’s net-zero vehicle mandates. Early reservations exceed 5,000 units since the Los Angeles Auto Show reveal, reflecting interest despite softening demand. This entry diversifies the United States EV landscape, where Tesla holds 50 percent share through the third quarter of 2025.
