The buzz around the Sony Honda Mobility’s electric vehicle has been electrifying for years, ever since Sony first teased the concept back in 2020. What started as the VISION-S project has evolved into AFEELA, and now, at the Consumer Electronics Show, we finally have a clearer picture – and crucially, the Afeela Car Price. For those in California eager to get behind the wheel of this tech-forward EV, reservations are now open, paving the way for its anticipated 2026 launch.
Sony’s journey into the EV space has been anything but conventional. From the initial shock unveiling of the VISION-S to the strategic partnership with Honda, each step has heightened anticipation. The AFEELA name emerged in 2023, accompanied by the promise of a 2026 release. This year’s CES update delivered the information everyone was waiting for: how much will the Afeela cost?
While Sony’s CES keynote segment dedicated to AFEELA was concise, clocking in at around 6 minutes, it packed in the most critical details to date, primarily focusing on pricing and availability. This announcement marks a significant step from concept to concrete reality for the AFEELA brand.
The official name is AFEELA 1, and the starting afeela car price for the “Origin” trim is set at $89,900. For those seeking more features, the “Signature” trim escalates to $102,900. Reservations are currently open with a refundable $200 fee, signaling Sony Honda Mobility’s commitment to bringing this vehicle to market.
Delving deeper into the trim differences, the $13,000 price jump to the Signature trim unlocks a range of enhancements. According to the AFEELA website, these upgrades include a broader spectrum of exterior color choices, rear screens for passenger entertainment (previously showcased in hands-on prototypes), a camera-based rear-view mirror, and larger alloy wheels. Interestingly, the Signature trim also boasts an earlier release timeframe, slated for mid-2026, while the base “Origin” trim is expected to arrive in 2027. This suggests that despite its name, the “Origin” trim is not the first off the production line.
However, the specifications remain somewhat fluid. The AFEELA website notes that “features may vary,” indicating that the details released are not yet a definitive spec sheet. Further information and potentially feature adjustments are expected as the launch date approaches.
Sony’s previous presentations have consistently emphasized its expertise in software and entertainment as core differentiators for AFEELA. The vision is to create a vehicle that seamlessly integrates software to elevate both passenger entertainment and driver assistance. This is embodied in the “AFEELA personal agent” and a suite of electronic driver aids, supported by an array of 45 sensors for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and potential autonomous driving capabilities.
A demonstration during the CES keynote featured Sony Honda Mobility CEO Yasuhide Mizuno interacting with the “personal agent” via a smartphone, showcasing the car’s ability to respond and even autonomously navigate onto and off stage. While last year’s demonstration involved driving the AFEELA onto stage with a PlayStation 5 controller, Sony clarified that these are tech demos, not necessarily indicative of final production features.
An important aspect revealed is the subscription-based model for the “personal agent” and autonomous driving features. A complimentary 3-year subscription will be included with the vehicle purchase, but details regarding post-subscription pricing remain undisclosed and “subject to change.” Given the negative consumer response to subscription models for car features seen with other automakers, adjustments to this plan are plausible.
Currently, AFEELA reservations are exclusively open to California residents. This initial California-centric launch strategy is a common practice in the EV industry. California stands out as the state with the highest EV adoption rates and stringent emissions regulations.
These regulations incentivize automakers to sell EVs in California to offset emissions from their gasoline-powered vehicle sales, sometimes leading to the term “compliance car” for vehicles primarily designed to meet these regulations rather than broader market appeal.
While Sony itself doesn’t have emissions to offset, Honda does. Honda recently entered the US EV market with the Prologue, which has shown strong sales across various states, not just California. This makes the exclusive California launch of AFEELA somewhat puzzling. We have reached out for clarification on the timeline for expanding reservations to other states and will provide updates as information becomes available.
For California customers, reservations for the AFEELA 1 are live on the official AFEELA website, requiring a fully refundable $200 deposit. As the 2026 launch approaches, expect more details about features, specifications, and wider availability of the afeela car price and the innovative EV from Sony Honda Mobility.
