Sony And Honda To Debut Their First EV In 2026 In North America And Japan, Tease New Model For CES

Honda and Sony announced more details about their project for a jointly developed EV. The new Tokyo-based company is called Sony Honda Mobility Inc and is planning to produce the first model in a Honda US plant. The EV is scheduled to roll out in 2026, prioritizing online sales in North America followed by exports to Japan.

According to the CEO of Sony Honda Mobility, Yasuhide Mizuno, the goal is not a mass-produced vehicle, but a “high value-added product” that will be characterized by Autonomy, Augmentation, and Affinity. The new software-focused entity is also planning to generate revenue from offering subscription-based services to its customers.

Also Read: Honda To Use Three New EV-Dedicated Platforms For Its Future Range

Details on the yet-unnamed model are scarce, but we know it will be loaded with technology from Sony. The tech giant will endow the car with the latest in terms of in-car entertainment, cloud-based software, and sensors for autonomous driving. The vehicle will be capable of Level 3 autonomy under certain scenarios and offer Level 2+ in more situations including urban driving.

Honda will contribute to the project with its expertise in engineering, manufacturing, and after-sales support. The automaker didn’t reveal the location of the plant, the platform of the EV, nor the supplier of the battery since it is considering all options including sourcing it from LG or General Motors.

Sony Honda Mobility is putting emphasis on the North American market since executives believe it is more advanced with higher purchasing power. The EV will also be exported to Japan, with local production under consideration. The company is also looking at its options for selling it in Europe in the future. At this point, it is not clear whether the electric model will be sold under the Sony Honda Mobility branding in the aforementioned markets or if it will use Sony and/or Honda badges depending on the region.

New Concept Coming To CES 2023

Sony has already given us a hint of its upcoming automotive involvement with the Vision-S 01 sedan and Vision-S 02 SUV concepts that debuted in CES 2021 and 2022 respectively. As a follow-up for CES 2023, Sony Honda Mobility will showcase another concept set to debut on January 4 according to the latest teaser. We don’t know if this concept will be a closer preview to the final production vehicle, but this could be the case.

Pre-orders for the new EV will open in the first half of 2025, with sales starting before the end of the year. The first deliveries are scheduled for spring 2026 in the US, and for the second half of 2026 in Japan. Sony Honda Mobility will be focused on online sales, providing a “personalized post-sales customer experience” and inviting customers to take part in the product development process.