Afeela 1: Sony’s Electric Car Turns Traffic Into Entertainment — Research

Picture this: you are stuck in traffic, and instead of gripping the wheel you are playing Fortnite on a panoramic display while the car keeps itself in the lane. That is the pitch for Afeela 1, the electric vehicle Sony Honda Mobility (SHM) showed at CES 2025. With Honda, Microsoft, and Epic Games in the mix, Sony is not only launching a car. It is arguing that the cabin is now a living room with a motor.

What sets Afeela 1 apart

Afeela 1 is sold as a “creative space on wheels.” Forty sensors — cameras, LiDAR, radar, ultrasound — support Level 2+ driving: hands off the wheel, eyes still on the road, with a path toward Level 3 (unsupervised autonomy in limited conditions). An ADAS stack on an 800 TOPS processor is the safety claim underneath the screens.

A 91 kWh battery is rated for up to 483 km (EPA estimate) and 150 kW DC fast charging, including Tesla’s Supercharger network. Twin electric motors make 482 hp. The numbers are competitive. The entertainment stack is the actual differentiator.

The cabin as a screen

Sony’s audiovisual business shows up in the interior: a panoramic display across the dash, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Audible, Dolby Atmos, and Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound. Rear passengers get their own screens in the headrests.

A deal with Epic Games puts Unreal Engine in the car for real-time play — in a jam, or while the battery fills. An AI assistant built on Microsoft Azure handles vehicle functions, talks, and suggests what to do next, by voice rather than by menu diving.

Design and materials

The exterior is quiet in the current EV manner: Core Black, Tidal Gray, Calm White. Inside, 70% of the materials are recycled or plant-based, including faux leather from corn and sugarcane. Active noise cancellation is there so the soundtrack, not the road, fills the cabin.

Price and availability

Preorders are open in California at $89,900 for Origin and $102,900 for Signature, with a $200 refundable deposit. Signature deliveries are slated for mid-2026; Origin follows in 2027. Production is in Ohio. Japan and Europe are later.

Watch the Afeela 1 reveal

Where the market is heading

Bloomberg expects 54 million electric vehicles a year by 2040. In-cabin entertainment is one of the few remaining ways to look different from Tesla and BYD. SHM’s argument is simple: the car still has to get you there. It might as well occupy you on the way.

Closing

Whether this is the next default for cars or a luxury with a plug depends on who actually buys it. For now, Afeela 1 is Sony’s bid to sit in the garage as well as the living room.