Sony’s ambitions in the electric vehicle space have come to an abrupt halt, as its planned lineup, including the Afeela 1 sedan and a companion SUV, will no longer move forward. Both models were based on Honda’s 0 Series electric architecture, which has now been shelved for the North American market.
Sony Honda Mobility has canceled its Afeela electric vehicle program following Honda’s decision to discontinue several related EV projects.
The move stems from Honda’s broader reassessment of its electrification strategy, which directly affected key technologies required for the vehicles. Customers who placed reservations for the Afeela 1 will receive refunds, while the future of the joint venture remains unclear.
The Sony Honda Mobility (SHM) joint venture officially confirmed the cancellation, marking the end of a project that once symbolized a major collaboration between two Japanese industry leaders.
The decision follows Honda’s move to cancel three upcoming electric vehicles intended for the U.S. market, the Acura RSX, Honda 0 Sedan, and Honda 0 SUV, which were nearing production readiness in Ohio.
All of these canceled models shared the same 0 Series platform that underpinned the Afeela 1 sedan and the SUV Sony Honda Mobility had in development.
“Sony Honda Mobility Inc. today announced that it has decided to discontinue the development and launch of its first model, AFEELA 1, and its second model of AFEELA vehicles that had been under development,” the joint venture company said in a press statement.
According to SHM, the decision followed internal discussions between its parent companies, Sony Group Corporation and Honda Motor Company. The primary factor behind the move is Honda’s cancellation of its U.S.-focused electric vehicle programs.
“As a result of Honda’s reassessment of its automobile electrification strategy announced on March 12, 2026, SHM will not be able to utilize certain technologies and assets that were originally planned to be provided by Honda at the time of SHM’s initial business planning,” SHM said.
Because of this, Sony Honda Mobility has realized that it doesn’t have “a viable path forward” to bring the Afeela models to market as originally planned.
The company also confirmed that it will issue full refunds to customers in California who placed reservation deposits for the Afeela 1, which had been slated to launch there first.
SHM added that it will continue discussions with Sony and Honda regarding future business directions, though no specific plans have been disclosed, raising the possibility that the joint venture itself could be wound down.
Sony Honda Mobility was established in September 2022 with the goal of developing “high value-added mobility products” and delivering new types of mobility services by combining Sony’s technological expertise with Honda’s automotive engineering capabilities.
The Afeela 1 sedan was positioned as the flagship product of this collaboration and had progressed further than any other vehicle based on Honda’s 0 Series platform. By August 2025, the model had entered pre-production at Honda’s East Liberty facility in Ohio, with initial deliveries expected by late 2026 in California.
The launch edition, Afeela 1 Signature, was projected to carry a price of $102,900, while a more accessible Afeela 1 Origin variant, starting at $89,900, was planned for release in 2027.
Earlier this year, at CES 2026, SHM also revealed a prototype crossover SUV that previewed a second production model under the Afeela brand.
Despite its cancellation, the Afeela 1 represented a highly ambitious approach to electric mobility. The sedan was conceived as a “rolling entertainment hub,” integrating Sony’s strengths in gaming and audio technology.
It featured a full-width digital dashboard with 3D mapping and immersive media functions, an AI-powered personal assistant, and advanced Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities supported by a suite of 40 sensors, including cameras, radar systems, and LiDAR.
