December 17, 2024 – Sony Honda Mobility, the joint venture between Sony Group and Honda focused on pure electric vehicles (EVs), has announced a partnership with Canadian media services company Stingray Group. The collaboration will introduce Stingray’s karaoke library, featuring over 100,000 songs, into the “AFEELA” model, which is set to begin accepting orders in the United States in 2025.
According to Yasuhide Mizuno, Chairman and CEO of Sony Honda Mobility, “Being able to sing along to your favorite songs with passengers while driving will enrich the in-car experience.”
In addition to the karaoke feature, Sony Honda Mobility has also announced the integration of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s movie streaming service, RIDEVU, into its vehicles for the US market. The service, which was introduced on December 2nd, is aimed at enhancing in-car entertainment options. Furthermore, the company has decided to incorporate Crunchyroll, a US-based video platform owned by Sony Group, into the AFEELA model as well.
The partnership between Honda and Sony was established in 2022, with the goal of combining Honda’s automotive manufacturing expertise with Sony’s software and entertainment capabilities. The joint venture plans to begin delivering its EVs to North America in 2026, with a targeted launch of its first sedan in 2025, followed by a sport utility vehicle (SUV) in 2027, and a compact, affordably priced sedan in 2028.
The AFEELA electric sedan, which is expected to be the first model released in 2025, has already been unveiled by Sony Honda. The vehicle features a unique Media Bar on its front fascia, which can display different content including the vehicle’s logo and charging progress. Additionally, the AFEELA will support L2-level driving assistance for city driving scenarios.
