The Afeela electric vehicle is evolving into a significant player in the automotive market, marking its transition from a concept to a real product available for preorder. This electric vehicle, the result of a collaboration between Sony and Honda, has taken five years to reach this point.
During a recent press conference at CES, Sony Honda Mobility unveiled pricing and preorder information for the Afeela. The vehicle will be available in two trims: the Afeela 1 Origin priced at $89,900 and the Afeela 1 Signature at $102,900. This pricing includes a complimentary three-year subscription for various in-car features, such as Level 2+ driver assistance and an AI-driven personal assistant. Pre-orders commence today, with a refundable $200 deposit required to secure a spot for purchase.
Since Sony introduced its Vision concept car in 2020, the landscape for electric vehicles (EVs) in the U.S. has changed dramatically. Demand for EVs surged, plateaued, and has now stabilized. The Biden administration’s generous incentives for EV buyers face potential elimination under the incoming Trump administration. Additionally, China has emerged as the global leader in EV production, prompting Honda to explore a merger with Nissan to enhance competitiveness in the EV market.
The Afeela, with its stylish sedan design and abundance of interior touchscreens, is rapidly advancing towards becoming a purchasable reality.
The latest prototype showcases a sleek EV sedan that combines elements of both Tesla and Lucid Air. It features an expansive dashboard with multiple screens, 45 sensors and cameras for semi-autonomous driving assistance, all-wheel drive capabilities, and hints at augmented reality and immersive “virtual worlds” integrated into the driving experience. Thus, Sony’s entry into the automotive sector appears strategically aimed at competing with leading luxury EV brands.
Furthermore, Sony Honda Mobility anticipates that its software will offer subscription services, indicating that vehicle owners may need to pay a monthly fee to access premium features, such as streaming video services.
In addition to preorder information, Sony Honda Mobility will hold another press conference tomorrow to discuss the customer experience related to purchasing and owning an Afeela.
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