Having showcased a couple of electric vehicle concepts, Sony at the beginning of this year announced that it was searching for partners to properly enter the EV segment. In March 2022, that search was over as it found a partner in Honda, with the two deciding to form a 50:50 joint venture. It was simply known as the “New Company” back then, but now the final name has been announced. Based in Tokyo, the Sony Honda Mobility Inc. will be formally established before the end of this year.
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Sales of EVs are scheduled to commence from 2025 when Sony and Honda will provide mobility services as well. Other details are scarce at this point, but the press release does reveals that the responsibilities will be split between the two companies. Sony Honda Mobility Inc will leverage “Honda’s cutting-edge environmental and safety technologies, mobility development capabilities, vehicle body manufacturing technology, and after-sales service management experience.”
On the other hand, Sony will provide its “expertise in the development and application of imaging, sensing, telecommunication, network, and entertainment technologies, to realize a new generation of mobility and services for mobility that are closely aligned with users and the environment and continue to evolve going forward.” Honda and Sony aim to provide “high-value-added electric vehicles” but its yet unknown whether Sony’s Vision-S 01 sedan and Vision-S 02 crossover will become part of the lineup under the new company. It is worth mentioning that Honda, which just like other Japanese automakers is fashionably late to the EV party, has recently struck a deal with General Motors to use its Ultium platform.
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Honda intends to increase sales of battery-powered and fuel cell EVs to 40% of total global annual deliveries by the end of the decade. This is expected to grow to 80% by 2035 before pulling the plug off the combustion engine altogether in 2040. To achieve that, a new dedicated electric platform will debut during the second half of the decade. Known as e:Architecture, it will be inaugurated on a series of US-bound cars before hitting other markets.
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com
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