New information about the car currently being developed by Sony and Honda has been shared. It will not be on the roads before 2026 and should target the wealthiest.
As surprising as it may seem, Sony, known for its PlayStation consoles, expensive televisions and abandoned Vaio computers, is currently developing… a car. And it’s not an April Fool’s joke: if this project can make you smile, it became concrete when Sony approached the manufacturer Honda. However, you will need to be patient. As Reuters indicates in an article published on October 13, the car will not be marketed before 2026 in the United States and Japan (Europe is under consideration).
More interestingly, the media tells us that Sony and Honda are considering opting for a business model inherited from the world of tech – which Sony knows well. In addition to a high entrance fee, considered ” premium “, she will allow “ generate recurring revenue through services that would be billed every months. “In short, it would be another way of consuming the automobile, even if this idea of the subscription already exists at Tesla with the Premium Connection (at 9.99 €).
The PlayStation Plus in the Sony car?
Sony and Honda are obviously not afraid to compare the vehicle to a ” smartphone with wheels “. What purpose ? Become a real platform on which would be added a constellation of services to which drivers can subscribe. Sony obviously takes care of all the software part, including cloud-related features.
One can very easily imagine, for example, access to PlayStation Plus, which would allow occupants to play ambitious video games in their car – for a monthly fee. Other sources of entertainment are possible, such as an SVOD platform with films and series (this service, called Bravia Core, already exists for televisions). In short, Sony already has several strings to its bow to offer added value to the project.
The Japanese multinational will also provide the sensors that will provide level 3 autonomous driving to the car. What is Honda doing in this association? The manufacturer, already present in the electric segment with the Honda e model, brings its automotive know-how, such as the — physical — platform on which the car will be designed and the factory where it will be assembled (in Ohio). For the moment, the technical details, such as autonomy, remain to be specified. By 2026, Honda and Sony still have time to refine the characteristics, especially since new technologies could improve the driving experience (on batteries, in particular).
