Sony's Afeela EV goes into pre-production by Honda at Ohio plant

Sony is gradually moving closer to having its own electric cars on the road as partner Honda starts pre-production of the electronics giant’s first EV. This first batch will be used for the final stages of testing.

The Afeela 1 sedan broke cover four years ago, but the final form was revealed at the 2025 CES tech show. Sony plans to launch the car in its home country, Japan, in 2026.

Sony has its sights set on the luxury segment, offering just two trims: the $89,900 Origin and the $102,900 Signature. The company has opened the pre-order books with a $200 refundable fee, and deliveries in California are scheduled for mid-2026, with expansion to other states to follow.

Honda is assembling the pre-production units at its East Liberty plant in Ohio, US. Sony has decided to collaborate with an established automaker, unlike smartphone rival Xiaomi, which owns its manufacturing facilities in China.

The Afeela 1 features a twin-motor powertrain that produces 480 hp. It will use a 91 kWh battery that lasts about 300 miles between charges and charges at a maximum rate of 150 kW.

Sony is proving true to its roots by filling the Afeela 1 to the brim with electronics. The maiden edition has 40 sensors, including lidar, radar, ultrasonic, and regular cameras. The car’s smarts is powered by an ultra-powerful ECU, and customers will be able to access plenty of Sony’s entertainment offerings on a wide screen flanked on both sides by digital wing mirrors.