On March 4, 2022, Sony and Honda announced a collaboration to launch a new structure, via a joint venture, with the objective of developing and selling 100% electric vehicles. This is not a first attempt for Sony, which was already working in 2019 with Yamaha to build an autonomous and electric car called the SC-1.
Sony’s electric vehicle prototype will become reality by 2025
At CES 2020, the Japanese company had already expressed its desire to position itself in the electric vehicle market. Two years later, at CES 2022, Sony presented two prototypes of electric vehicles on which it is working: the Vision-S 01 and Vision-S 02. This sedan incorporates all the know-how of the high-tech giant in terms of image sensors, screens and entertainment.
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The Vision-S had also benefited from the technical contribution of automotive specialists such as Magna-Steyr, a time anticipated for the mass production of this electric sedan. Nevertheless, Sony decided to partner with Honda. Today, thanks to this new partnership, the possibility of seeing these two models on the roads is more concrete. The two firms have defined an ambitious short-term plan to sell a first model from 2025.
A partnership that will lead to the creation of a joint venture
As part of this collaboration, a joint venture should be created so that it can take advantage of the know-how of the two firms to plan, design, develop and sell their electric cars. However, this new entity will not have a production site: on the one hand, Honda will produce the electric car in its factories while Sony will develop a platform of mobility services for the company.
” Although Sony and Honda are companies that share many historical and cultural similarities, our areas of technology expertise are very different. I believe that this alliance that brings together the strengths of our two companies offers great possibilities for the future of mobility. says Toshihiro Mibe, Honda’s general manager.
” Through this alliance with Honda, which has accumulated immense experience and created many achievements in the automotive industry over many years, we intend to build on our vision to create a new era. for mobility and mobility-related services added Kenichiro Yoshida, CEO of Sony.
For now, Honda and Sony said they had agreed to ” deepen discussions with the aim of creating their new company this year.