​Sony Honda Mobility has announced that 2026 will see the launch of the first car jointly developed by the Japanese car company and the electronics giant. A launch in Europe is also being considered. In May, Honda and Sony announced a joint venture to produce and sell electric cars, with the first models expected to hit the market in a few years.

The electric car will be released first in the US and then in Japan, and it will be a premium model. A possible release in Europe is also being discussed, but it is still early days. Orders are accepted from 2025.

Sony will take care of the software, from everything that will be displayed on the board to cloud services for entertainment and payments. Given the trends that are already starting to emerge, it’s possible that some of the services available on this machine will be subscription-based.

Sony will also provide the various sensors as well as the technology needed for the car to have Level 3 autonomy, which means that at some points the driver will not need to give 100% of the driving experience.

Sony has a strong presence in sensors, imaging technology, cloud computing, 5G and entertainment, so it is well-positioned to create electric cars with partner companies, cars that can use a lot of technology.

Sony has lost a significant share of the electronics market and exited some product segments, so entering a promising business with a major partner would be a good idea and would add a reliable source of revenue.

Honda, like Toyota, still has a small share of the all-electric car market, but wants to change that with a long-term plan to electrify the range with a $40 billion investment.

Sources: Reuters, ABC News