Honda and Sony's Afeela EVs won't be out anymore
What's the story
Honda and Sony have officially announced the cancellation of their Afeela electric vehicles (EVs), including the highly-anticipated sedan and SUV. The decision comes after Honda's recent reassessment of its electrification strategy, which noted changes in the EV market. The joint venture, Sony Honda Mobility (SHM), launched in 2022, is now considering its next steps amid this development.
Termination
Production of Afeela EV was to begin in late 2026
The first Afeela EV was scheduled to be produced at Honda's Ohio plant by late 2026. However, both the development and planned launch have been discontinued. Despite this setback, Honda and Sony remain committed to their partnership and are exploring new concepts for SHM's future in the mobility sector. Further updates are expected as they determine their next course of action in the electric vehicle space.
Strategy shift
Honda previously halted production of 3 models
Earlier this month, Honda scrapped two of its own EVs and a third model that was supposed to revive the Acura RSX. In a joint statement, Honda and Sony said these changes are also impacting the Afeela-branded models planned for sale by their joint venture. The companies will "review SHM's business direction," but they are not breaking up.
Financial impact
Major blow to Honda's finances
The cancellation of the Afeela EVs comes as a major blow to Honda, which has already projected up to $15.8 billion in losses after scrapping three models: the 0 SUV, 0 Sedan, and Acura RSX. The decision is especially surprising given that the cars were already in pre-production at Honda's Ohio plant.