Sony and Honda have a new joint venture to build electric vehicles. And this morning, that joint venture made some big news: It plans to launch a new line of electric vehicles in the US — and build it in North America.
The new Sony-Honda EVs will launch in the US in 2025, with pre-orders starting there, the companies confirmed Thursday. Deliveries will begin in early 2026.
Sales will start in Japan later that year, and Europe will follow, but as executives have reported to several outlets the US has been picked up because of strong EV growth. .
The joint venture, named Sony Honda Mobility Inc., “plans to manufacture its first product at Honda’s plant in North America,” it said in the announcement. While that doesn’t make it clear where, as Honda has multiple plants in the US, Canada and Mexico, Honda announced a $700 million investment this week to renovate some of its existing plants in the US. Ohio City electric vehicle manufacturing center—With a nearby Honda-LG joint venture battery plant.
Idea Sony Vision-S 02
Idea Sony Vision-S 02
Idea Sony Vision-S 02
The cars are expected to closely follow the format that Sony has introduced for almost three years with its Vision-S prototype — the Concept sedan Vision-WORLDand Vision-S 02 crossover SUV. The 02 is a three-row, seven-seat car unlike the Tesla Model X, while the former will likely be roughly the same size as the Tesla Model 3.
Sony’s Vision-S sedan already uses some components from auto supplier and contract manufacturer Magna-Steyr, although the joint venture could bring core expertise back fully under control. control of these two companies.
The projects were unusual from the start. Sony initially insisted that the Vision-S was just a concept car, but a year later showed that it had gone above and beyond. development and public testing of EV in Europe.
Idea Sony Vision-S 02
More recently, Sony has suggested that new EVs could be a valuable, money-making product Content platform for companies, extending to entertainment and gaming. The joint venture this morning hinted that the region will be the new company’s primary focus, and said it will build an open community, for other automotive partners, “to create new mobile entertainment”.
The company suggests the initial model from the joint venture will be a premium offering, although cheaper models will be a possibility as the brand expands.
