According to Electric Cars Report, Sony Honda Mobility announced its plans to deliver its first electric vehicles by 2026.
The joint venture (JV) between the two Japanese companies will go on sale by 2025 and deliveries in the United States and Japan by 2026. Pre-orders also start by 2025.
Sony Group Corp. And Honda set up the joint venture in March. It aims to link Honda’s proficiency and Sony’s expertise together. The companyʼ s goal is to “Move people, through the pursuit of innovation with diverse inspirations.”
“It was necessary to take a totally new approach,” Yasuhide Mizuno, chairman of the JV, told reporters in Tokyo. “We want to make this completely new.”
Its production will be at Honda’s North American plant. Though pricing, platform, kind of battery, and production volume were not disclosed. However, officials state there will be a special model not meant for massive sales.
“The US was chosen for the launch because electric vehicles are already popular there. Japan came second as Honda’s home market, and other markets, including Europe, will follow, but no dates were set,” Mizuno stated.
Partners will also be added for the project, said Izumi Kawanishi, COO at Sony Mobility.
The new EV will offer a software system from Sony. The companies said it would open recurring revenue from the entertainment sector and other services billed monthly.
“The first delivery is expected to be in North America in the spring of 2026. In Japan, delivery is planned to begin in the second half of 2026,” Mizuno said on Thursday.
It is the first update from the joint venture, Sony Honda Mobility, since the launching of the project from the two companies in June. In addition, the companies announced to form the new entity to develop EVs and other mobility services. It was set up in September and capitalized at 10 billion yen ($68 million), with both taking a 50% stake.
SHM drives to be a ‘Mobility Tech Company’ that will provide high-value products and services. It aims to create relations with customers by adopting new concepts through software-oriented technologies and actively building partnerships.