Japanese automakers Honda and software and entertainment conglomerate Sony unveiled their first concept car Afeela at the US technology trade show CES, 2023. This comes after the two companies announced their partnership to build and sell electric vehicles and develop a new “mobility service platform” to use with the EVs in March 2022, said Sony chief Kenichiro Yoshida. 

While Sony is responsible for “imaging, sensing, telecommunication, network, and entertainment technologies”, Honda will manage the manufacture of the vehicles. The initial batches of “moving entertainment spaces” will be delivered to customers in North America in early 2026. 

Initially planned to be produced at Honda’s North American factory, the cars will have Level 3 automated driving capabilities but with certain limitations. At level three autonomy, the vehicle can operate in traffic, but the human driver must take control when the system signals it.

Features of Afeela

Afeela cars will be powered by US semiconductor company Qualcomm’s “Snapdragon Digital Chassis” technology, said its CEO Cristiano Amon. The four-door sedan, driven on stage at the show, had a digital display “media bar” that could be used to interact and exchange information with people outside the vehicle, as demonstrated on stage, and Lidar for autonomous driving. Built on Sony’s sensor expertise, the Afeela concept car is packed with 45 cameras and sensors on the interior and exterior of the vehicle to assure safety. In addition, 3D interfaces for the vehicles will be designed using Unreal Engine graphics technology by EpicGames.

Highlights on the auto tech industry from CES 2023

• BMW reveals I-Vision Dee concept car that uses e-ink technology to switch between 32 body colours, while its windshield enables a view of “mixed reality.”
• Qualcomm Technologies presented a new concept car to demonstrate how the Snapdragon Digital Chassis solutions integrate technology to create individualised experiences. It includes features like 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, vehicle-to-vehicle communication, immersive infotainment, driver assistance, and enhanced safety. In addition, Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon Ride Flex SoC, a new automotive processor made exclusively for infotainment and driver-assistance technologies.
• Holoride, the startup supported by Audi, launched a smart speaker-sized device that can retrofit any vehicle to make it VR-enabled. The device employs an HTC Vive Flow VR headset, to generate a virtual environment that imitates the vehilcle’s motion.
• Mercedes disclosed its plan to build its own-brand electric car charging network with more than 10,000 active charge points by 2027.
• American MNC Goodyear introduced a 70% sustainable tire.
• LG Electronics and Canadian automotive parts manufacturer Magna announced a “technical collaboration” to build automated driving infotainment system proof of concept.
• Automaker Stellantis is assisting Archer Aviation in building an eVTOL electric aeroplane called Midnight. 

Why are tech companies betting big on EVs?

Smartphone and tech manufacturing companies like Apple, Oppo, Xiaomi, Samsung, Huawei, and Google have entered the electrical automotive space, as most of them have peaked in the phones and IoT products industry. These businesses have transitioned to the automotive sector due to the government’s current incentives for creating and manufacturing environmentally friendly automobiles.

Although they are ahead of the software companies, seasoned members of the automobile sector like Maruti, Mahindra, and TATA Motors lack the inventiveness and technological advancements that LG, Sony, and other businesses are prepared to spend in. There has been an increase in the market for electric vehicles and other energy-efficient technologies as a result of the United Nations issuing a red alert on climate change. All types of technology companies are stepping up to make the least environmentally friendly industry as sustainable as they can.