Honda's plant in East Liberty, Ohio, has started pre-production of the first joint electric sedan - Afeela 1. This stage is key to perfecting every detail - from the quality of assembly and paint to testing of all on-board systems, before full-scale production begins in 2026.
The Afeela 1 was introduced as a concept model in 2023 and immediately attracted attention with its emphasis on technology. The car is positioned as a premium sedan that combines Sony's long-standing experience in electronics with Honda's automotive engineering. It is equipped with over 40 sensors, including LiDAR, and relies on artificial intelligence from Sony, which can personalize driving and multimedia settings.
The model will be available in two trim levels: Origin at a price of about $89,900 and Signature, whose price starts at $102,900. Both versions have all-wheel drive, provided by two electric motors with a power of 180 kW, and a battery with a capacity of 91 kWh. The expected range is approximately 483 km on a single charge.
Deliveries of the higher-end Signature are planned to begin in mid-2026, while the Origin will reach customers in 2027. The success of the Afeela 1 will be an important test for the future of the partnership between Sony and Honda and will show whether their collaboration can become a serious competitor to market leaders such as Tesla in the premium electric vehicle segment.