Sony and Honda are planning to form a new company which will be dedicated to selling electronic vehicles. Although the new venture is yet to be finalized, the two companies have already signed a new memorandum that deals with the intent of both the companies in this regard. As per the announcement, the sales are likely to take place sometime in 2025.
Honda will be in charge of manufacturing the first model, and Sony will develop a mobility service platform. The company that will emerge out of the joint initiative will be entrusted with the electric car’s design. Honda is not completely unfamiliar with the domain of electric vehicles.
According to Honda Global, the company plans to electrify almost two-thirds of global automobile unit sales in 2030 as part of its ZEV or Zero-Emission Vehicles initiative. Sony, on the other hand, had previously expressed its desire to venture into the e-car category, and as such the company showcased its electric concept car at the CES 2020 called the Vision-S. At CES 2022, the company came out with its revamped concept car called the Vision-S 02.
Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida said in a statement, “Sony’s purpose is to ‘fill the world with emotion through the power of creativity and technology. Through this alliance with Honda, which has accumulated extensive global experience and achievements in the automobile industry over many years and continues to make revolutionary advancements in this field, we intend to build on our vision to ‘make the mobility space an emotional one,’ and contribute to the evolution of mobility centred around safety, entertainment and adaptability.”
Keeping in line with the statement released by Sony’s CEO, Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe mentioned in a statement, “The New Company will aim to stand at the forefront of innovation, evolution, and expansion of mobility around the world, by taking a broad and ambitious approach to creating value that exceeds the expectations and imagination of customers. We will do so by leveraging Honda’s cutting-edge technology and know-how in relation to the environment and safety, while aligning the technological assets of both companies. Although Sony and Honda are companies that share many historical and cultural similarities, our areas of technological expertise are very different. Therefore, I believe this alliance which brings together the strengths of our two companies offers great possibilities for the future of mobility.”
