Honda/Sony EV coming to America

Honda Motor Company and Japanese electronics giant Sony will join forces to produce the Honda/Sony EV, a newly developed electric vehicle at a Honda plant to be named later in North America. They will deliver it to customers in Spring of 2026.

In a report published in Automotive News, on October 13, 2022, the joint-venture company Sony Honda Mobility, Inc. announced in a Tokyo news event that the company will begin taking orders in the next three years. The high-value-added vehicle will include plenty of new technology from Sony that will include new entertainment systems, advanced software and high-capability sensors.

The built-in-America electric vehicle will also be sold here as well as exported for sale to Japanese markets. European markets are also under consideration.

The Honda/Sony EV prioritizes North American sales

According to the AutoNews story, the vehicle will be centered around online sales. It’s a format Honda has been working on in Japan, although other plans are still under consideration said Sony Honda Mobility. These include aftermarket sales and service plans.

The North American rollout is because the region is one of Honda’s most important markets. The U.S. is advancing quickly in EV development and marketplace acceptance, not to mention an ever-expanding network of charging structures. EV regulations and incentives like those found in California are also in play in Sony Honda’s marketing decision.

“The reason we chose North America is because it is more advanced,” said Yasuhide Mizuno, CEO of the joint venture. The announcement occurred during a Thursday news briefing. “I think North America is a market with a lot of purchasing power,” he said. He described that Electrification is a moving target that varies from state to state. Mizuno stressed the importance of releasing product in markets that are already EV-friendly, like California.

Made in America, for the World

Sales should start in 2026. The Honda/Sony EV will be one of those rare products manufactured in the U.S. by a Japanese company. What makes it unusual is that it’s built by a Japanese company for import into its home country.

Sony Honda Mobility will begin vehicle sales in the first half of 2025. Keep watching Napleton News for more information as it becomes available.