Sony Honda Mobility has initiated pre-production trials of its first electric vehicle, the AFEELA 1, at Honda’s East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio. The trials mark a key milestone as the joint venture between Sony Group and Honda Motor prepares for mass production in 2026.
The pre-production phase is focused on validating part compatibility, refining assembly precision, and assessing paint quality. Teams at the plant are adjusting panel gaps to sub-millimeter accuracy and inspecting each component to ensure readiness for scaled manufacturing.
“Leveraging Honda’s expertise as our contract manufacturing partner, combined with Sony Honda Mobility’s additional quality standards and inspections based on our standards, we are committed to delivering AFEELA 1’s design with exceptional precision and refined quality,” said Shugo Yamaguchi, President and CEO of Sony Honda Mobility of America Inc.
The company has developed custom jigs and specialized processes to meet the demands of the AFEELA 1’s exterior design, which emphasizes smooth surfaces and minimal lines. A dedicated Quality Gate is also under construction to provide a final layer of inspection after vehicles leave the assembly line.
As part of ongoing preparation, Sony Honda Mobility plans to continue fine-tuning its production processes based on insights gained during the trial phase.