Sony Honda Mobility unveils production version of Afeela EV, confirms that the EV will start at $90k and launch in mid-2026 in California.
Sony used CES 2025 to debut the near-production version of the Afeela 1 EV.
Sony has been teasing the world with its plans to produce an electric car since 2020 when the Japanese electronics company shocked the world with its bold plans. The announcement came bundled with a concept called the VISION-0 which later became the Afeela in 2023.
Sony is always eager to make a splash at CES and the company once again shared Afeela news at the event with Sony not only confirming final pricing for the model, but also launch plans with the Afeela going on sale in California in 2026.
Afeela 1 to start at $90,000
The model will have a base price of $90,000 for Origin models but the 2026 launch will be spearheaded by the pricier Signature variant.
Unlike other times when Sony put a big focus on the car in their remarks, the company chose to keep it in the background this time during its announcement but that still didn’t stop it from releasing some fresh details on the car. One key update is that there will be a two-model trim ladder for the Afeela with the base Origin model starting at $89,900 ($90,000 with fees) and the range-topping Signature starting at $102,900. The Signature models come loaded with technology but while Sony didn’t reveal the full equipment list but did say a new 2-screen rear entertainment system will be standard along with a Center Camera Mirror feature and 21-inch alloy wheels.
The base Origin gets smaller 19-inch wheels and while the highlight sheet for that variant was sparse, it’s clear that Sony is still seeing it as a potent gateway model for the Afeela family especially if it can balance the right mixture of standard equipment, technology, and value. The company also confirmed that interested buyers can reserve an Afeela online via a dedicated Afeela website for $200.
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California gets first dibs
California will be the only state where reservations will be accepted for now but that might change as Sony irons out the Afeela 1 with real-world data from use in the Golden State.
Another prominent catch is in addition to the pricier Signature model arriving first, reservations will also be limited to California only. This particular move is not much of a surprise with Sony and Honda Mobility using the unique EV charging ecosystem in California as a real-world opportunity to test the Afeela 1 on public roads and to get feedback from early adopters.
It’s not known if the Afeela 1 will find its way to other markets but we suspect that the Afeela could find its way to other EV hotspots like New York in the distant future. However, the recent slowdown in EV demand and sales will force Sony to take a more calculated approach to the EV and any decision made about sales and distribution will have to be made to make sure the Afeela 1 will not only have a fair shot at reaching out to as many customers as possible, but make the most profit possible.
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