Back in March this year, Sony Group and Honda announced a strategic partnership to jointly establish an electric vehicles company. Then, the duo firms noted they would invest 50% each in the establishment of a new company at the end of September.
Although the name of the EV company was not disclosed then, it has now been revealed as the company sets 2025 for online pre-orders for the upcoming Sony and Honda electric vehicles. The new EV company is named “Sony Honda Mobility.”
Sony Honda Mobility
According to the firms, the jointly established EV company will produce its electric vehicles at Honda’s North American plant. It will start shipping in the North American market in the spring of this year. It is planned to be sold online.
At the same time, the first brand-new vehicle from Sony Honda Mobility will be up for pre-order in the first half of 2025 and will go on sale before the year’s conclusion. During the second half of 2026, it will also be sold to the Japanese market and the North American market.
Meanwhile, Honda’s North American facility will be responsible for electric vehicle assembly, online sales will replace dealer-based transactions, and consideration is being given to European markets.
Sony Honda Mobility To Offer Auto Driving Technology
The “Degree 3” level of autonomous driving technology is what Sony Honda Mobility aims to achieve with its electric vehicles. Sony’s picture and audio technologies will be utilized for the electric vehicle that will be marketed in 2025. It is believed to set itself apart from its rivals through improved entertainment performance.
Currently, there is tremendous competition in the world market for electric vehicles. In 2021, 936,000 automobiles will be sold worldwide, with Tesla (TSLA-US) having earlier entry into the advanced electric vehicle sector. Although the company has only recently begun, Izumi Kawasaki, president, and chief operating officer of Sony Honda Mobility, stated that he is keen to build a team that can compete internationally.