Even more Honda electric vehicles (EVs) have been given the axe before they made it to production.
Sony Honda Mobility, which is a joint venture between Honda and Sony, has indefinitely delayed the launch of the Afeela 1 electric sedan, as well as its follow-up electric SUV model.
The company claims that this is due to Honda's "reassessment of its automobile electrification strategy", which it announced earlier this month.
Read more
- Tesla's newest rival nears reality
- Japan's answer to the Tesla Model 3, BYD Seal and Lucid Air revealed but is the high-tech, luxury Afeela 1 electric car really going to match its rivals in the "era of autonomous driving"?
- Watch out, Tesla? Two new electric cars coming from Honda and Sony's new EV brand, Afeela, to join incoming sedan: report
"SHM [Sony Honda Mobility] will not be able to utilise certain technologies and assets that were originally planned to be provided by Honda at the time of SHM's initial business planning," explained the company in a statement.
As a result it determined there is no "viable path forward" to bring the Afeela 1 and its SUV counterpart to market.
The company is issuing full refunds to those who placed reservations for the Afeela 1 in California, USA.
Sony Honda Mobility first revealed a concept version of the Afeela 1 at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in 2023 before revealing it in production guise at CES in 2025.
It had been planned for production to commence at Honda's Ohio production facility by mid-2026. The electric SUV counterpart was set to follow in 2028.
In the US, the Afeela 1 had a starting price of US$89,900 (~A$129,500), extending out to US$102,900 (~A$148,300), making it a premium rival to the likes of the BMW i5 and Mercedes-Benz EQE.
Power was to come from a dual-motor all-wheel drive set-up with a total system output of 180kW. The electric motors would be fed by a 91kWh battery pack, allowing for a driving range of around 480km, according to an undisclosed testing standard.
A major focus of this EV was its advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) which used 40 sensors, including LiDAR, AI and visualisations for the driver and passenger.
Technology was also another major focus of the Afeela 1. It featured a so-called 'Media' bar on the front bumper, an interior panoramic screen display set-up, as well as a yoke-style steering wheel and power-operated doors.
While the Afeela 1 and its SUV counterpart may never reach production, Sony Honda Mobility hasn't ruled out introducing something in the future.
"SHM will continue discussions with Sony and Honda regarding its future business plans," said the company in its statement.
This latest Honda-related cancellation follows the Japanese carmaker axing its forthcoming 0 Series of EVs, plus the Acura RSX.
