Sony and Honda join hands
Electric vehicle ‘Apila’ to be launched
Expected to be equipped with cutting-edge AI technology
Photo source = ‘venturebeat’
On the 20th, the Nippon Keizai Shimbun announced that Sony and Honda plan to install artificial intelligence (AI) technology in electric vehicles released in 2026. The electric vehicle ‘Apila’ is being developed through Sony Honda Mobility, a joint venture between Honda and Sony.
Sony Honda Mobility plans to improve autonomous driving performance by using the advancement of AI by applying its own operating system to ‘Apila’. In the United States, Tesla is already installing AI in electric vehicles starting in 2023, and BYD in China plans to install it within this year in cooperation with Huawei, so competition is expected to intensify.
Photo source = ‘Entrepreneur’ Photo source = ‘Geex – X-KOM’
Compared to existing autonomous vehicles
Reduce costs and speed up improvements
Existing autonomous vehicles are mainly systems that recognize obstacles and control driving through sensors and cameras. However, in this process, programs for recognition or judgment must be developed by humans. When using AI, the speed of improvement in driving function can increase by continuously learning driving data on its own. There is also the advantage of using AI to reduce costs such as expensive sensors.
Sony Honda Mobility plans to gradually update the functions of ‘Apila’ about 1-2 times a year related to AI autonomous driving. Initially, it is expected to be equipped with a ‘level 3’ function that significantly reduces driving maneuvers under certain conditions such as highways.
Photo source = ‘Rent a Car Baku, Car Hire Azerbaijan’ Photo source = ‘The Verge’
Driven in four-wheel drive
A total output of 483 horsepower is achieved.
The electric vehicle ‘Apila’, scheduled to be released in 2026, is driven by four-wheel drive, and the two electric motors mounted on the front and rear each produce 241 horsepower. The total system output reaches 483 horsepower. It uses a 91kWh lithium-ion battery and supports both 150kW DC charging and 11kW AC charging.
The front fascia has an integrated digital display, and the LED headlamps placed on both sides are connected by LED strips. The size of the vehicle is 4,915mm in length, 1,900mm in width, 1,460mm in height, and 3,000mm in wheelbase.
Photo source = ‘MotorTrend’ Photo source = ‘AFEELA’
Pre-order from the first half of next year
Price starts from about 60 million won
The interior has a U-shaped steering wheel, and a panoramic screen extending from the front of the driver’s seat to the passenger seat displays driving information, navigation, and in-car infotainment. It is reported that the price of Apila will start at about $45,000 (about 59.39 million won).
Apila will be produced at the Honda plant in Ohio, USA, and sold exclusively online in North America and other major markets around the world. Apilla will be available for pre-order from the first half of next year, and deliveries are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026.
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