- The electric sedan is targeted squarely against the Tesla Model S and Lucid Air.
- Shoppers can place a $200 refundable deposit to secure their spot in line.
- The finished version is tipped to deliver 483 hp and has 300 miles (483 km) of range.
Honda and Sony are looking to convince prospective EV buyers that they should opt for a sleek and innovative sedan known simply as ‘1’. The new model has been in the works for several years, and at CES, the Afeela brand has opened its reservation book for California customers.
The two companies say the Afeela 1 “pursues an interactive relationship between people and vehicles” and will reach the hands of customers in mid-2026. It’s not cheap. Afeela will sell the EV in two guises, with prices kicking off from $89,900, including a 3-year complimentary subscription to select features, including Afeela Intelligent Drive, Afeela Personal Agent, and entertainment content. The base model is known as the Origin while the flagship is dubbed the Signature.
Read: U.S. Dealers Concerned About VW’s Scout And Sony Honda’s Afeela Direct Sales Model
Like some other new players in the EV market, Afeela will begin deliveries of the flagship model before the arrival of the 1 Origin. The Signature starts at $102,900 and features things like 21-inch wheels, a rear entertainment system, and a central camera monitoring system. Afeela also seems to have taken a leaf out of Tesla’s playbook and will only sell the electric sedan in three color options: Tidal Gray, Calm White, and Core Black.
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.
Afeela presented a moderately updated version of last year’s prototype at CES. It promises the production model will be good for 300 miles (483 km) of range and that the EV will support the Tesla Supercharging network at launch. Presumably, the production model will have the same 91 kWh lithium-ion battery pack as the prototype, driving a pair of electric motors that deliver 483 hp.
One of the most important features is Afeela Intelligent Drive. This is the brand’s proprietary ADAS and uses cameras, radars, ultrasonic sensors, and LiDAR to provide advanced driver-assistance functions. However, it’s not yet clear what level of autonomy it offers.
