July 08, 2024 – Honda and Sony have announced their collaboration to share an electric vehicle (EV) chassis, marking a significant step in the automotive industry. The two companies plan to introduce this shared chassis system in their North American models starting from 2026.
The chassis, often referred to as the backbone of a car, requires over 100 billion yen in development costs for electric vehicles. As global competition in EV pricing intensifies, collaborations like this one between Honda and Sony are becoming increasingly common as companies seek to enhance their competitiveness.
The chassis standardization will be implemented in Honda’s self-developed pure EV “0 Series” and the premium EV “AFEELA,” jointly launched by Sony Honda Mobility, a 50-50 joint venture between Sony Group and Honda. This move is expected to reduce costs and shorten development cycles, as the chassis accounts for approximately 10% of the total cost of a pure EV.
Sony Honda Mobility, the joint venture between Sony and Honda, has set a target to launch three EV models by 2030. The first model, anticipated to be the “AFEELA” electric sedan, is scheduled for release in 2025. This vehicle, which has already been unveiled, features a unique Media Bar on its front fascia that can display various content, including the charging progress. Additionally, the AFEELA will support Level 2 driving assistance for city driving scenarios.
Following the launch of the AFEELA, Sony Honda Mobility plans to introduce a sport utility vehicle (SUV) in 2027 and a compact sedan priced for the mass market in 2028. These upcoming models, along with the chassis sharing initiative, demonstrate the companies’ commitment to innovation and collaboration in the EV market.
