- SHM begins preproduction on the Afeela 1, its first vehicle set to debut around midyear.
- Even though the company has largely been quiet over the past year, it says s it's still on track with its production plans.
- The Afeela 1 still doesn't look too enticing compared to its more powerful and faster-charging rivals.
Afeela has stayed pretty quiet throughout much of 2025, but the Sony-Honda Mobility (SHM) joint venture is still on track to launch its first vehicle later this year. The company recently announced it has begun trial production runs of the Afeela 1 at Honda’s East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio, ensuring the vehicle meets quality standards.
There’s still no official date for the start of production or deliveries, but SHM product quality boss Susan Dulik said that “We will ensure that all integrated functions installed in the vehicle operate completely as designed to deliver the experience promised by AFEELA. We will provide not only technology but also the highest reliability. This is our commitment to our customers.”
But even if SHM gets the execution quality right, the Afeela 1 will enter a crowded market segment where there are plenty of midsize electric sedans costing over $90,000 to choose between and it’s wading into the market with somewhat modest specs.
It will have a standard dual-motor setup with around 400 horsepower, DC fast-charge at up to 150 kW via a Tesla-style NACS plug, and offer a range of around 300 miles from its 91-kilowatt-hour battery. There are cars that cost the same or less and outperform it across the board, so this clearly isn’t what SHM hopes will draw buyers.
Even though its design is somewhat generic, it promises to be a thoroughly unique offering that blends Honda’s car-making expertise with Sony’s entertainment experience and tech focus. It will be packed with comfort, convenience and entertainment gadgets that SHM hopes will make buyers overlook its specs.
Safety is one area where SHM expects the Afeela 1 to lead the pack. It will feature an array comprised of 40 sensors, including 18 cameras, one lidar module, nine radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors. This promises to give a clear picture of what’s around the vehicle at all times and it’s all the hardware the vehicle needs for Level 3 automated driving. It won’t be Level 3-capable at launch, but SHM plans to roll that out in the future.
That’s more than most vehicles sold in the U.S. today and SHM hopes that excellent safety and a built-in PlayStation 5 will be enough to make it popular. The Afeela 1 is definitely one of 2026’s most interesting debuts, but we’re not sure it has enough to ensure success. Maybe the manufacturer knows something we don’t, but right now it doesn’t look very compelling. You can reserve one today by placing a refundable $200 deposit.
