But that turned out to be exactly the plan. Although Sony began developing its EV with the contract manufacturer (and tier 1 supplier) Magna Steyr, the car— now called the Afeela 1 —will be built by Honda, which formed a strategic alliance with Sony to create the aforementioned Sony Honda Mobility, which will sell the new car.

Afeela is starting to become a little bit more than just a feeling. The electric vehicle, which is a joint venture between Sony and Honda, is finally available for preorder. And it only took five years to get here.

The Japanese joint venture group Sony Honda Mobility has revealed its first car – the Afeela 1. Sony Honda Mobility was established in 2022 with the two firms in partnership to build electric vehicles.

The Afeela 1 appears to be based on the same platform which underpins the Honda 0 Series electric cars. The Honda-Sony EV comes with dual electric motor offering output of 482 bhp. The Afeela 1 is equipped with a 91kWh lithium-ion battery pack which promises to offer up to 483 kms of range in a single charge.

With prices starting at $89,900 and topping out at $102,900, the Afeela 1 is priced head-to-head against the Lucid Air and the Tesla Model S. Interested buyers will need to cough up a $200 refundable deposit to get in line to buy one when sales begin later this year. Afeela hasn’t announced when the car will be available outside of California.

You may recognize this concept—Sony and Honda debuted it at CES 2024, with customer orders set to open this year. Afeela has also promised an SUV and a cheaper model down the line. And an updated version of the prototype is set to debut at CES 2025 this evening.

Sony has been discussing its EV ambitions for five years, but now the company is ready to sell you a car. Through Sony Honda Mobility, the Afeela is be available for reservation one now with a $200 fee.

Sony Honda Mobility Inc. introduced its first EV under the AFEELA brand, the AFEELA 1, at CES 2025. The vehicle will be manufactured in Ohio, with sales beginning in California in 2025. Online reservations have opened with a $200 refundable fee.