Honda’s recent cancellation of three planned electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States has prompted Sony Honda Mobility to announce the discontinuation of its own EV projects. This joint venture between Honda and Sony aimed to leverage both companies’ strengths in automotive engineering and entertainment technology.
Despite Honda’s early adoption of hybrid technology, the company has struggled to keep pace with the rapidly evolving battery-electric vehicle market. The Honda e, a compact city car, managed to attract only around 12,000 buyers in four years across Europe and Japan. In contrast, the Honda Prologue, a larger model based on a General Motors platform, sold 33,000 units in 2024 and 39,000 in the following year. However, sales of the Prologue have significantly declined since the expiration of the federal clean vehicle tax credit.
Impact on Sony Honda Mobility
The cancellation of Honda’s EV projects has directly affected Sony Honda Mobility’s plans. Initially formed in 2022, the joint venture was built on the foundation of Sony’s Vision-S concept, which showcased an electric sedan equipped with advanced sensors and entertainment systems. Honda was selected to handle the mechanical engineering and production aspects of the vehicles.
The Afeela 1, the first model from this partnership, was introduced with a starting price of $89,900. It was later joined by the Afeela 2, an SUV. However, with Honda’s withdrawal from the EV market, Sony Honda Mobility stated that it could no longer utilize certain technologies and resources initially planned for the Afeela models, rendering the project unfeasible.
Refunds for Depositors
As a result of these cancellations, customers who placed deposits for the Afeela 1 will receive full refunds. The lack of additional EV production at Honda’s East Liberty plant in Ohio further complicates the continuation of the Afeela project, leading to its termination.
This article was produced by NeonPulse.today using human and AI-assisted editorial processes, based on publicly available information. Content may be edited for clarity and style.
