The economy may be circling the drain, though EVs have been fighting to maintain popularity even before all hell broke loose overseas. The prediction made by Toyota regarding the rapid integration of electric cars feels more relevant now, as various electric models are either scrapped or delayed due to the fluctuating interest in electric mobility. And while some automakers, predominantly those that only produce electric cars, are planning to keep pushing forward, others — those that made their name before EVs began gaining mass-market popularity — are seemingly rolling back plans to introduce new electric models. Hondaand Sony are among the latter. Bad News For Honda (And PlayStation) Boys AFEELA 1 Signature in Calm White front studio shotSony and Honda's joint venture, Sony Honda Mobility (SHM), has canceled development of their upcoming electric cars, which include a sedan (the Afeela 1) and an SUV. This comes after Honda announced it would reassess its EV strategy a few weeks ago,effectively canceling its ultra-modern EVs: the Acura RSX, Honda 0 Series SUV, and the Honda 0 Series Saloon.Lyndon Conrad Bell | TopSpeed The group announced via a joint statement that, due to Honda's sidelining of their EV initiative, they would not have access to the technologies and assets needed to produce the Afeela models. Without a viable path forward, the group will not be bringing its planned models to market, which were set to go into production at Honda's East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio. Thus, refunds will be issued for all who coughed up a reservation fee. The Underlying Cause Of Afeela's Failed Launch Sony Honda Mobility Aside from global tension inflating nearly every consumable, the EV market, as mentioned, has been fighting to maintain popularity. With the tax credit coming to an end a while ago, some investors are reassessing their portfolios, as the realization that incentives drove a fair amount of sales sets in, and numbers are down. That said, electric car development and innovation remain healthy, with numerous automakers and independent firms pushing to ensure an electric future: from Rivian, Volvo, and BMW planning to roll out new electric models to Magna and Donut Labs pushinghybrid driveand solid-state battery tech forward via their own initiatives, respectively.Afeela Still, we're seeing models from Tesla, Ford, and now Afeela bite the dust as uncertainty runs rampant in the auto industry. Also of note is the fact that Afeela's upcoming models aren't geared toward wallet-friendly shoppers—a large segment of the market right now. With $90,000+ stickers, there were challenges that went beyond access to Honda's technology and assets and fluctuating electric car interest. The Afeela Models At Face Value Lyndon Conrad Bell | TopSpeed While we may never get a chance to experience the ultra-modern electric models, they did pack a fair amount of tech and style that, at the very least, placed them firmly in contention with today's aesthetic EVs. To start, an intelligent driving system utilizing an array of sensors, cameras, and AI would, quote, "see what you can't" to ensure safety and reduce the burden of driving. Honda and Sony also highlighted immersion, with 360-degree audio technology and a large screen for all occupants, allowing those along for the ride to forget they were even in a vehicle. Passengers would even be able to stream PlayStation games via Remote Play integration.Afeela Performance for the Afeela 1, which was actually in the pre-production phases, included a range of up to 300 miles thanks to an AWD platform utilizing dual motors producing 241 horsepower each for a combined 482 horsepower and a 91-kWh battery. With NACS Supercharger capability, DC charging was placed at 150 kW and AC at 11 kW.Source: Sony Honda Mobility
