Sony and Honda have announced that they plan to launch their first jointly developed electric car in 2026. The electric car promised as a premium category is the result of a 50-50 collaboration, which officially Sony Honda Mobility has been running since the beginning of this year. Production would begin in 2025 at one of Honda’s 12 factories in the United States, presumably in Ohio, and the first orders would be delivered in early 2026. The Japanese plan sales in a way similar to Tesla’s practice: on an online channel, giving the customer (that is, the pre-orderer here) a free hand in customizing the vehicle to his personal needs from the options provided.
The Vision-S O2 SUV is a concept car unveiled by Sony at CES 2022. (source: Sony) [+]
Sony Honda Mobility would combine Honda’s experience in car manufacturing with the knowledge that Sony has acquired in the fields of sensors, software, entertainment, and other electronics and telecommunications, and which it has already presented in its concept cars. From the cooperation, they hope to compete with the American Tesla or the Chinese BYD in the electric car market.
The Sony Vision-S. [+]
According to plans, the first American customers will receive their cars in the first half of 2026, and the first shipments of the cars will arrive on the Japanese market in the second half of 2026 – said Mizuno Jaszuhide, President and CEO of Sony Honda Mobility on October 13 at a press conference.
Izumi Kavanisi, president and chief operating officer of Sony Honda Mobility, speaks at Thursday’s press conference. (source: The Japan Times) [+]
Information about the car, such as pricing, range, or the platform used as a base, has not yet been revealed. At the press conference, however, the representatives talked about envisioning the vehicle as a rolling smartphone, for which Sony provides the software background and cloud services. The latter will also be able to connect to payment and entertainment systems, plans also include a monthly subscription system with various functions. Likewise, Lvl. 3 self-driving functions are also based on Sony’s developments, but Sony Honda has not yet shared any more information about this either.
