Sony, Honda Show Off Electric Concept Car At CES 2023

Sony and Honda unveiled a prototype of a brand new electrical automotive underneath the model title Afeela on Wednesday.

The automobile, which appears like a mid-sized sedan, was pushed on stage at CES 2023 in Las Vegas, with a brand new entrance finish sporting the Afeela brand. 

“Afeela represents our idea of an interactive relationship the place individuals really feel the feeling of interactive mobility and the place mobility can detect and perceive individuals and society by using sensing and AI applied sciences,” Yasuhide Mizuno, Sony Honda Mobility chief govt stated.

The Afeela brand appeared on a slender display screen or “media bar” on the automobile’s entrance bumper that may additionally work together and share info with individuals exterior the vehice or passersby such because the climate or the automotive’s state of cost, as demonstrated on stage. Mizuno did not provide many particulars on why the title Afeela was chosen aside from sharing that the phrase “really feel” was on the coronary heart of the mobility expertise expertise.  

Leaning into Sony’s energy in sensors, the Afeela prototype comes geared up with greater than 40 sensors, a few of which can assist detect the driving force’s situation to assist guarantee security, the corporate stated. On the software program facet, it is going to use know-how from Qualcomm together with its so-called Snapdragon Digital Chassis, whereas best-in-class leisure for motion pictures and video games will even be on faucet because of Sony’s facet of the enterprise. 

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Sony, Honda Show Afeela Concept Car at CES 2023

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Sony and Honda announced a joint venture last year to develop and build electric cars. The JV, called Sony Honda Mobility, aimes to have pre-orders established for its electric vehicle in the first half of 2025, with sales to follow in the latter half of that year.  The first shipment are earmarked to be delivered to customers in North America in the spring of 2026, Mizuno said.

The company appears to be focusing on online sales, and there’s an interesting sentence in the release about how Sony Honda Mobility wants customers to “take part in the product development process,” whatever that means. The car will be produced at Honda’s facilities in North America.