TL;DR
Sony Honda Mobility has canceled the development of its Afeela electric vehicles due to a strategic shift in Honda's global EV plans.
Sony Honda Mobility (SHM), the collaborative automotive venture between Sony and Honda, has announced the discontinuation of its Afeela-branded electric vehicles. This decision follows a recent global strategy reassessment by Honda concerning its electric car initiatives. The Afeela 1 sedan, which had opened bookings in January 2025 with a planned 2026 launch, along with a second Afeela SUV model slated for 2028, will no longer proceed as initially planned. SHM will fully refund all bookings for the Afeela 1.
The official statement from SHM cited Honda's revised electrification strategy, which rendered the joint venture unable to utilize certain technologies and assets initially intended for the Afeela models. This change in direction has led SHM to conclude that a viable path to market for these vehicles, as originally conceived, no longer exists. The Afeela 1, first revealed at CES in January 2024, was expected to enter production in 2026 with a 91kWh battery and a dual-motor powertrain.
