Sony Honda Mobility (SHM) will be accepting reservations for its first electric vehicle (EV) in 2025 with deliveries planned for 2026, according to a statement issued by the company during a press conference held Thursday.
Sony Honda Mobility teases its upcoming EV ahead of CES 2023
This is the first update from SHM since the partnership was publicly launched in June this year. The joint venture between Japanese giants Sony Group Corporation and Honda Motor Company said that the model will be sold online, with the U.S. and Japan as its maiden markets.
Following the EV’s Las Vegas preview at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in January 2023, SHM will accept pre-orders in the first half of 2025. Once Stateside sales commence before the end of that year, SHM will start shipping units to Japan by the middle of 2026.
No key details such as platform, battery range, and pricing were disclosed. However, SHM representatives described the EV as almost functioning like a smartphone on wheels. Sony will be responsible for the vehicle’s software systems from onboard controllers to cloud-based services that will be used to link entertainment and payment features.
Honda previously launched the world's first Level 3-capable vehicle in 2021
More importantly, the consumer electronics firm will supply sensors and other technologies necessary for a Level 3 autonomous drive system that will allow drivers to take advantage of content and software services.
SHM says that it will focus on three As for its EV lineup: Autonomy, Augmentation, and Affinity. The vehicle will be given limited Level 3 functionality where drivers can take their hands off the steering wheel, dialed back down to Level 2+ in urban driving scenarios. A cloud-connected user interface and “integrated service framework” will also reportedly be offered.
“As safe driving technology will continue to evolve and the amount of concentration required to drive will be reduced, we should consider new ways to enjoy and spend time in the cabin space as a whole,” said SHM president and Sony executive Izumi Kawanishi.
Honda, in partnership with LG Energy Solution, previously announced plans to build a $4.4 billion (over Php 250 billion) facility near Jeffersonville, Ohio. The plant will produce batteries for upcoming electric Honda and Acura models to be sold in North America.
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