Sony Honda Mobility, a Sony and Honda joint venture, is already considering a wider production lineup for the Afeela electric car. After launching the first Afeela sedan prototype, Sony Honda Mobility followed up with SUV, second sedan and MPV models.
“Not just one model, done. We are thinking about the second and third models. We need a line-up,” said CEO of Sony Honda Mobility Yasuhide Mizuno at the CES 2023 event.
After the first sedan starts shipping in spring 2026, Sony Honda Mobility will likely follow up with an SUV, a second sedan, and even an MPV. Sony Honda Mobility has previously shown sedan and SUV concepts at CES, namely the Vision-S 01 and Vision-S 02.
“The possibility of the MPV model could also be considered if Afeela succeeds in holding hands-free driving widely,” said Mizuno. The first Sony Honda Mobility products under the Afeela brand will be made in the United States at Honda’s undisclosed location.
Mizuno added that other models needed to be launched fairly quickly after the first sedan, to compete with the Tesla Model 3, BMW i4 or Mercedes-Benz EQE. “If we go for five years with only one model, everyone will forget about Sony Honda Mobility,” he said.
He explained that the Afeela will use the electric platform of the upcoming Honda e:Architecture, which is slated to launch around the same time as the Afeela sedan in 2025-2026. Honda will tackle aspects such as battery sourcing as well as final specifications including range and charging.
Mizuno also said the Afeela would be a “high value” car and would target wealthier buyers. However, he did not provide a price range for Afeela.
