Sony Honda Mobility means business with its new Afeela 1 electric saloon, the car has gone into production in California in the US ahead of deliveries later in 2026. 

A second production site is set to open in Arizona in 2027, with deliveries to the Japanese market expected in the first half of that year too.  

The Afeela 1 is a joint venture between two powerhouse Japanese firms – Sony brings its tech know how to the project, while Honda brings its many years of car making experience too. 

The new car is styled like a saloon, but with a hatchback opening, and understandably focuses on its technological offering once you're inside – there are screens everywhere, including one that runs the full width of the dashboard, but an otherwise minimalist Tesla-style vibe. 

The car also gets a 91kWh battery and is rated for 300 miles of range on the US EPA standard. 

And before the Afeela 1 even goes on sale, SHM is teasing its next car at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in the form of the Afeela Prototype. 

The new car takes the same look as the Afeela 1 but translates it into a higher riding SUV profile, and SHM says that this next car could be on sale in the USA by 2028. 

There’s no word yet on when either car might end up in the UK, but the good news for the British market is that Japan is right-hand drive too, so it’s less fuss to bring the cars over here when they’ve already been engineered to drive on the proper side of the road. 

Ginny got to have a look at the Afeela 1 in the US last year and was impressed by what she saw on some fronts, but thought the car had a little work to do in other areas – especially if it goes on sale for the same price in the UK as in the USA, which works out at around £70,000. 

Screens for everyone – just don't forget to look where you're actually going...