Sony kicked off its big CES 2023 event by announcing that its hit racing game Gran Turismo was arriving on its new Playstation VR2 platform. And then Sony followed by announcing a real car.
That’s right, Sony is teaming up with Honda and entering the EV market with a whole new car brand called Afeela.
A few highlights we know of so far: The Afeela has a real display built into the front bumper, which can be used to provide information to passing cars and pedestrians. Sony introduced various themes that could be used, such as a Spider-Man design that appeared on the front of the Afeela using the screen. From memory, I can imagine Uber drivers using it to easily let customers know their ride has arrived when the vehicle comes to a stop.
The Afeela includes a display integrated into the front bumper as well as 45 cameras and sensors inside and outside the vehicle.
The Sony and Honda EV will also have an in-car entertainment console offering various Sony movie, music and game titles. Sony’s brands, including Playstation, will be heavily integrated into Afeela.
Sony also released Epic CTO Kim Liberi to announce that Unreal Engine will be integrated with the Afeela to create a “game engine for driving”. The vehicle will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon digital chassis.
Another remarkable feature: the Afeela will have 45 cameras and sensors both inside and outside the vehicle.
Sony and Honda previously announcement a mobility joint venture early last year. And it looks like the Afeela is the result, at least as far as premium car brands go. The Afeela looked really stylish in person, but there’s still much, much more to learn about the vehicle.
But do you feel it so far? If so, Sony has announced that the Afeela will begin shipping to US customers in the spring of 2026. The company will begin taking pre-orders in 2025.
