Sony Honda Mobility (SHM), a joint venture between Japanese giants Sony and Honda, made a strong statement at CES 2026 by unveiling a pre-production version of the Afeela 1 sedan alongside a first look at a new electric SUV prototype inspired by the same design language.
The Afeela 1 has been attracting attention for nearly three years. SHM first revealed a prototype of its battery-electric limousine at CES 2023, signaling its serious ambitions in the electric vehicle market. Development continued steadily, and at CES 2025 the company officially announced the vehicle’s name—Afeela 1—along with a starting price of $89,990.
Now, at CES 2026, SHM has reached another important milestone by presenting a pre-production version of the Afeela 1. This move underscores that the vehicle’s market launch is close. Customer deliveries are scheduled to begin later this year in California, followed by Arizona in 2025. Japanese customers can expect deliveries to start in the first half of 2027.
Initially, the Afeela 1 will be offered only in two U.S. states and Japan—a strategy that likely reflects the vehicle’s strong focus on advanced driver assistance and future autonomous driving capabilities, which require specific regulatory approvals. The system is built around an extensive sensor suite comprising 40 sensors, including 18 cameras, one LiDAR unit, nine radar sensors, and twelve ultrasonic sensors. These are powered by a Qualcomm computing platform capable of 800 TOPS of processing performance. SHM has also confirmed that some advanced driver assistance features will be offered via paid subscriptions in the future.
SHM used CES 2026 to provide an update on its Afeela Intelligent Drive system. The company is expanding the system into a comprehensive AI platform that incorporates a vision-language model (VLM). While the current focus is on Level 2+ driver assistance—capable of supporting journeys from start to destination—the long-term goal is to achieve Level 4 autonomy. At that stage, the vehicle interior would become a fully “driverless” environment, allowing occupants to focus on entertainment and other activities.
In preparation for mass production, SHM conducted test runs of the Afeela 1 on Honda’s production line in East Liberty, Ohio, in autumn 2025. The vehicles displayed at CES 2026 are the result of those efforts. Looking ahead, SHM plans to open dedicated Afeela Studios in Torrance and Fremont, California, this spring. These locations will combine showroom, delivery, and customer experience functions under one roof.
Beyond the Afeela 1, Sony Honda Mobility also introduced a new concept vehicle called the Afeela Prototype 2026. This battery-electric SUV coupé closely mirrors the design of the Afeela 1 but is intended to offer greater interior space, flexibility, and accessibility. While SHM has not yet disclosed dimensions or technical specifications, the company says the model builds on the core Afeela concept and is designed to appeal to a broader range of users.
A production version based on this SUV prototype is already planned, with a market launch in the United States targeted for 2028.
