Afeela to Launch Three EVs, Challenging Tesla’s Dominance

Afeela, a Sony-Honda venture, aims to rival Tesla with a sedan, SUV, and compact EV by the decade’s end, blending cutting-edge tech and affordability.

Afeela, the electric vehicle collaboration between Sony and Honda, is set to challenge Tesla in the U.S. with a trio of vehicles by the decade’s end. This initiative will expand beyond the already revealed sedan to include an SUV and an economical compact electric model.

The partnership, known as Sony Honda Mobility, was established in 2022 and introduced its inaugural electric sedan prototype at CES 2023 under the Afeela brand. Following this, plans are underway to launch an SUV by 2027 and a budget-friendly compact car by 2028 or later, according to insiders speaking to Nikkei.

These vehicles will all bear the Afeela name and share a common platform to reduce manufacturing costs. The upcoming SUV is expected to surpass the sedan in technological advancements, whereas the compact model will aim for affordability by scaling back on tech features. This smaller car will be comparable in size to the Toyota Corolla or Volkswagen Golf and will utilize some components from Honda’s independently developed Evs.

In terms of specifications, the Afeela sedan is anticipated to feature a 91 kWh battery and dual motors producing a total of 483 hp. Sony is leading the technological development, including a conversational AI voice assistant in partnership with Microsoft and an Epic Games co-designed infotainment system with unique gaming features. The company is also exploring in-car video games for driver entertainment.