Sony and Honda open pre-orders for Afeela EV, starting at $89,900

[DragonSlayer101]

What just happened? Sony and Honda announced at CES that pre-orders are officially open for their upcoming 'Afeela' EV. However, only customers in California can make reservations right now, with no clarification on when it will be open to buyers across the rest of the country.

The mid-size sedan, which is roughly the same size as a Honda Accord, will come in two trims: the base Afeela 1 Origin priced at $89,900 and the premium Afeela 1 Signature, costing $102,900. Both are available for pre-order through a refundable $200 deposit.

Deliveries for the Origin will begin in mid-2026, but the Signature won't start shipping until 2027. Both trims will include a complimentary three-year subscription to multiple smart features, including a Level 2+ driver assist system and an AI-powered personal assistant. Curiously, the Origin will only be offered in a 'Core Black' color, while the Signature is listed with three color options.

At the CES press event, Sony Honda Mobility CEO Yasuhide Mizuno showcased the Afeela's AI chops by using the "Come on out, Afeela" voice command to summon the vehicle using a mobile app. However, Mizuno clarified that the voice command was only a "tech demo," so it's unclear if it will be a part of the production model.

The Afeela has a new-age design that boasts a panoramic screen spanning the width of the dashboard. It also has 40 sensors, including 1 LiDAR, nine radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors, both inside and outside the vehicle. Other notable tech includes a processor with 800 TOPS of computing power and a host of cameras for the L2+ ADAS feature.

The Afeela gets an AWD drivetrain, front and rear motors with 180kW outputs, up to 300 miles of EPA-estimated range, a 91kWh lithium-ion battery, and NACS Supercharger connectivity. It will also support Tesla's ever-growing Supercharger network, which includes over 6,000 stations with over 62,000 connectors.

Sony showcased its Vision-S smart car concept at CES 2020 as part of its plans to jump on the EV bandwagon. In 2022, the company partnered with Honda to develop a new mobility service platform. According to the two companies, Sony will take care of the imaging, sensing, telecommunication, network, and in-car entertainment, while the manufacturing will be done by Honda.

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Sony and Honda open pre-orders for Afeela EV, starting at $89,900

 

[The Talking Tech]

Starting at $89,900....which will probably come totally stripped down in features and barely a few miles in battery life.

EV's are like VR in gaming....both unnecessarily overpriced wondering why can't people widely accept them.

 

[Neatfeatguy]

What a waste of money.

 

[yRaz]

There are already tons of vehicles sitting on lots. I saw 2022 models sitting on lots in 2024. The market needs affordable cars, these $90,000 cars will sit in lots.

 

[HeeeF]

Starting at $89,900....which will probably come totally stripped down in features and barely a few miles in battery life.

EV's are like VR in gaming....both unnecessarily overpriced wondering why can't people widely accept them.

VR is cheap-ish now. Quest.

 

[Eldrach]

This is dead on arrival with that pricepoint. Going against Mercedes and Volvo with that pricing - and they'll not make a dent in the market

 

[Dreadcthulhu]

I like how that car looks, but that is way too high of a price; the Telsa Model S Plaid (which has more than 1,000 HP) starts at $95k, not to mention the plethora of other EVs available for much cheaper.

 

[netman]

"According to the two companies, Sony will take care of the imaging, sensing, telecommunication, network, and in-car entertainment, while the manufacturing will be done by Honda."

It appears the High Price was suggested by Sony, even though they have the smaller part in the car production...!

 

[netman]

I am surprised Honda has fallen into this trap by Sony...!

 

[p51d007]

They need to take a hint from Henry Ford. Yeah, not the nicest man, but his idea was correct.
He wanted to reduce the price of his Model T cars so that "even my workers can afford one".
Vehicles today have too many sensors, camera, computer nonsense that just inflates the price
and makes them VERY expensive to repair.

 

[Mr Majestyk]

DOA. In Australia they'll be asking $175K+ I'm not buying any car from a camera and game console maker and Honda's been irrelevant for 29 years now. They are so desperate they are going to merge with Neesan.

 

[The Talking Tech]

VR is cheap-ish now. Quest.

I'm sure someone with a $30,000 Prius would say the same.

It's not just about the overrated cost but what you barely get for such a price.

 

[netman]

They need to take a hint from Henry Ford. Yeah, not the nicest man, but his idea was correct.
He wanted to reduce the price of his Model T cars so that "even my workers can afford one".
Vehicles today have too many sensors, camera, computer nonsense that just inflates the price
and makes them VERY expensive to repair.

Not to mention that they are spy centers...!

 

[Inthenstus]

Better come with a PS5 Pro at this price.. jeez

 

[Underdog]

Full width dash display? To more easily distract you from watching where you are going, or to make enough room for all the drop down menus for all the crap options you don't want or need.

 

[EdmondRC]

I'm poor apparently, I used to be able to afford new things, now I can't. $2,000 GPUs and $90,000 vehicles. I'm being priced out everywhere I look. Apparently, my life choices were worse than I thought. I'm still driving my 2011 Ford Fusion and I'm praying it doesn't die anytime soon because the sticker shock on new vehicles may be too much for my heart to take.

 

[Northy]

I'm poor apparently, I used to be able to afford new things, now I can't. $2,000 GPUs and $90,000 vehicles. I'm being priced out everywhere I look. Apparently, my life choices were worse than I thought. I'm still driving my 2011 Ford Fusion and I'm praying it doesn't die anytime soon because the sticker shock on new vehicles may be too much for my heart to take.

It's a cycle, competition will overcome monopolies given time and then it will be a race to the bottom. No need to worry.

 

[toooooot]

I like it's simple European like design. I believe if they ever offer mainstream, priced moderately, version of this car, it will sell well, especially if it inherited Honda's quality.
Just a reminder, Xiaomi's car is selling for30k China. Even if Afeela is built in a developed country, it needs to be more competitivly priced. Tesla could sell cars for 80 when it was the only offer.
But today at 90 there are many more options, and I do not think Sony's car looks much better.
This is not the car they can make money on.

 

[toooooot]

I'm poor apparently, I used to be able to afford new things, now I can't. $2,000 GPUs and $90,000 vehicles. I'm being priced out everywhere I look. Apparently, my life choices were worse than I thought. I'm still driving my 2011 Ford Fusion and I'm praying it doesn't die anytime soon because the sticker shock on new vehicles may be too much for my heart to take.

If it has a turbo boosted engine, prayers are absolutely necessary. I had 2014 version for some time.

 

[EdmondRC]

If it has a turbo boosted engine, prayers are absolutely necessary. I had 2014 version for some time.

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