Honda and Sony’s joint venture, Afeela, is preparing to unveil an upcoming electric vehicle (EV) that promises to revolutionize the automotive industry with its advanced technologies. To achieve this ambitious feat, the companies have enlisted the expertise of Qualcomm Technologies, a renowned chip manufacturer and AI developer.
At the core of the project lies Qualcomm’s groundbreaking Snapdragon Digital Chassis, capable of executing a staggering 800 trillion operations per second. This is a significant leap compared to the chips commonly used in current production cars, which typically handle 10 trillion to 50 trillion operations per second.
Qualcomm’s involvement extends beyond just the powerful processor. The EV will incorporate no less than 45 sensors, including eight cameras and a LiDAR, all powered by Qualcomm’s cutting-edge technology. The Snapdragon Ride system will enable autonomous driving capabilities, while the Snapdragon connectivity chips will provide seamless 5G cellular and WiFi connectivity. Inside the cabin, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon cockpit will drive the various interior screens and the front fascia display.
Sony, leveraging its gaming expertise, will utilize Qualcomm’s Epic Games Unreal Engine as a real-time 3D creation tool to further enhance the user experience.
AutoPacific’s Chief Analyst, Ed Kim, emphasized the significance of Qualcomm’s contribution, suggesting that the EV could be seen more as a “Qualcomm EV” than one from Sony Honda Mobility.
Bill Pinnell, Vice President of Product Management for Qualcomm, highlighted the company’s strategic shift away from being solely focused on smartphones. He sees the Afeela EV as a pivotal milestone, where all of Qualcomm’s technologies seamlessly integrate into a single product.
The specific technical specifications of Afeela’s first EV project are still under wraps, but the company aims to commence pre-orders in the first half of 2025, with deliveries expected to begin in 2026. With such an impressive collaboration between Honda, Sony, and Qualcomm, this EV is poised to redefine the landscape of electric vehicles and set new benchmarks for technological innovation in the automotive industry.
