A joint project between Sony and Honda, the Afeela 1 has begun pre-production at Honda’s East Libery, Ohio, plant.
The Afeela 1 will carry a sticker that starts at $89,900 and will go on sale in mid-2026.
The vehicle will target techphiles, with passengers able to watch movies in surround sound, or listen to audiophile-quality music, for example.
The Sony/Honda electric Afeela 1 is in pre-production at the automaker’s East Liberty plant in Ohio, with a brief to set a high standard for manufacturing. That could turn out to be a welcome development, especially considering some recent and fairly troubled model introductions (the Fisker Ocean and the VinFast VF 8 and 9 come to mind).
The Afeela 1 from Sony Honda Mobility was announced earlier this year at CES in Las Vegas. Reservations ($200, refundable) are open now, with the first cars, in two trims at $89,900 (Origin) and $102,900 (Signature), getting delivered in mid-2026.
The upscale version adds 21-inch wheels, rear entertainment and a center camera monitoring system. The more basic Origin model will appear sometime after Signature.
The car comes with 40 sensors (cameras, LiDAR, radar, ultrasonic), an ECU leveraged with over-the-top computing power (800 trillion operations per second), AI tech, active noise canceling and a spatial sound system.
The prices include three-year subscriptions to some of the connected features, but seem steep for the current market. But maybe they’re on target for a car that seeks to redefine “the relationship between people and mobility.”
Karl Brauer, executive analyst at iSeeCars.com, agrees that the price is a problem. “Partnering with Sony allows Honda to share the cost of developing an EV, while also benefiting from Sony’s ability to incorporate advanced technology into a new passenger vehicle,” he said.
“Unfortunately, even with the shared cost, the Afeela’s price and electric drivetrain will limit its consumer appeal to the same buyers already shopping Lucids, Rivians, and Teslas. As an exercise in producing a new EV with advanced features, the Afeela will provide a test bed for two companies dabbling in electric vehicle production. But it will have little-to-no impact on the overwhelming majority of car buyers.”
Photos of the pre-production process show white-coated engineers checking for even the smallest inaccuracy in panel gaps (using a dedicated tool), validating door panel assembly with a custom jig, working on the car’s unique polishing process (with automated sanding machines) for a uniform reflective surface.
The car itself is straightforward, with front and rear 180-kilowatt electric motors for AWD, 300-mile cruising range, and a 91-kilowatt-hour battery that can be charged (including at NACS stations) at up to 150 kilowatts.
But it’s the entertainment tech inside that sets the car apart. The passengers can watch movies in surround sound, or listen to audiophile-quality music. The map feature includes 3D renderings that are shown on dash-spanning screens. The interior is customizable with in-cabin themed wallpaper and ambient lighting. The e-motor sounds can also be adjusted.
Sony Honda Mobility answered some questions via email. Will there be more Afeela models, maybe something cheaper? “We’re excited about the future of the Afeela lineup and are exploring additional models. Stay tuned for more updates.”
Can you give us a few use cases for the in-cabin tech, what you can do with it? “It’s designed to be immersive and intelligent—whether it’s personalized entertainment, advanced navigation, or AI Agent. We invite you to explore these features firsthand at our upcoming pop-up events and demos.”
Will the car be offered internationally? “Yes, we are starting in California with plans to launch Afeela in Japan.” The Japanese launch will also be in 2026.
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