Highly anticipated, the first electric car developed by Sony should not arrive before 2026. And it really will not be within reach of all budgets, quite the contrary.
What if the automotive market was no longer just reserved for traditional manufacturers? Today, many tech brands also want to get into this area, such as Xiaomi, which is working on the launch of its first vehicle, as well as Apple and its famous Apple Car project. But these actors are not the only ones who want to get started, since Sony also has a similar project.
In partnership with Honda
In 2020, the brand known in particular for its video game consoles lifted the veil on its very first electric car called Vision-S at CES in Las Vegas. A unique and ultra-technological vehicle, which then gave an idea of the ambitions of the company. A year later, last January, it unveiled to everyone’s surprise a seven-seater electric SUV, still in prototype form.
It was also at this time that the company formalized the creation of Sony Mobility Inc, a branch dedicated to mobilitywith the ambition of making the best use of the potential of artificial intelligence and robotization technologies, applied to mobility.
A few months later, Sony announced the signing of a partnership with Honda and the creation of a joint venture called Sony Honda Mobility for the creation of its first electric car. According to the American press agency Reutersit should not see the light of day before the year 2026, in the United States and Japan, while an arrival in Europe is still under study.
For the time being, we still know very little about this car, which should have a 100% electric motor, the specifics of which have not been announced. However, we know that it will adopt a premium positioning, with a high entry ticket that has not yet been detailed for the moment.
It could also be that the car will be offered with a long list of paid services, to which it will be possible to subscribe via a subscription. A strategy already implemented by some manufacturers, including BMW.
Many technologies
Similar to a “smartphone with wheels”, this newcomer to the market should therefore be a real concentrate of technologies. According Reutersit will notably be equipped with level 3 autonomous driving, only offered for the time being by the Mercedes EQS and S-Class. A technology authorized in Europe since the beginning of the summer and in France since September 1.
It is Sony who will be in charge of developing the software part of the car, and therefore of offering various features on subscription. As explained Numerama, many things could be considered, such as an SVOD platform similar to Bravia Core. Access to PlayStation Plus allowing you to play the console during long journeys in autonomous mode could also be offered.
For its part, Honda will bring its know-how in the field of the automobile for the development of the platform and the engine of the car. However, it will still be necessary to show a little patience to be able to discover the technical specificities of this car, which could simply be the definitive version of the Vision-S. With 400 kW, or about 543 horsepowerit should go directly hunting on the lands of Tesla, but also new Chinese brands such as Nio or BYD.
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