The new company plans to take pre-orders for its vehicle in the first half of 2025 and start sales before the end of that year
Sony Honda Mobility Inc., a new electric car company formed by Sony and Honda aims to deliver electric vehicles in Japan and US by 2026. The new company plans to take pre-orders for its vehicle in the first half of 2025 and start sales before the end of that year. Sony and Honda agreed to sign a 50-50 joint venture bringing together the respective companies’ technology and expertise to produce EVs. The US deliveries are set to begin in the spring of 2026 while the deliveries to Japan will happen in the latter half of 2026.
The electronic vehicle will be offering a new software system that is developed by Sony which would pave the way to recurring revenue from various services that will be billed on a monthly basis. The electronic vehicle will also be priced at a premium. The details of the electronic vehicle including its price, the kind of battery used, and the platform was not disclosed. The production will take place in one of the Honda plants in the US.
The officials also informed that the EV will be a special model and not meant for mass production and sales. The US was chosen for the launch because of the popularity of electronic vehicles in the country and Japan being the home country of Honda, will be the second nation to welcome electronic vehicles in 2026. Sony Honda Mobility states that the company aims to develop a Level 3 automated drive under limited conditions and also to facilitate Level 2+ driver assistance in more situations such as urban driving.
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) defines 6 levels of driving automation from 0 to 5. Level 2 is Partial Automation where the vehicle can perform steering and acceleration. Level 3 automated driving features will not operate unless all the requirements are met.
Sony Honda Mobility Chief Operating Officer, Izumi Kawanishi states that other partners will be added to the project. In the coming years, the demand for zero-emission vehicles is expected to grow across the globe due to increasing climate concerns and sustainability.
Sony and Honda signed a joint venture in June 2022 to establish a new company to provide services for mobility and engage in the sale of high-value-added electric vehicles. The agreement was the result of a tactical alliance in the automotive field between the two companies. Sony Honda Mobility will bring together the expertise of both firms along with advanced technologies to realize a brand-new generation of mobility and services which is closely connected to the environment, and its customers and continue to move forward.
Yasuhide Mizuno, Representative Director, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Sony Honda Mobility Inc. states that the collaboration will bring together hardware and software to produce a satisfying experience emotionally and it was important to have a new approach.
In the month of April, Honda stated that the company plans to bring around 30 electric vehicle models worldwide by 2030. The company also says that it planned to assign around 5 trillion Japanese yen to software technologies and electrification.
About Sony
Sony is an Entertainment provider headquartered in Tokyo. The company creates groundbreaking technology, service, and entertainment for people across the globe. The firm specializes in various fields such as Electronics (such as Audio Video/IT products & components), Entertainment such as motion pictures and music, Games such as PlayStation and, Financial Services including insurance and banking sectors. The firm operates in different countries and operates in different industries including movies, music, and video games.