Sony Honda Mobility starts AFEELA 1 EV trial production, opens Quality Gate inspecting 40-sensor models in Ohio
Sony Honda Mobility began trial production of its AFEELA 1 EV at Honda’s East Liberty Ohio plant, with a new Quality Gate center inspecting vehicles equipped with 40 sensors, panoramic screens and AI connectivity. Inspections feed data back to Honda’s production; AFEELA 1 deliveries are set for California in 2026.
1. Trial Production of AFEELA 1 Commences in Ohio
Sony Honda Mobility Inc. has initiated trial production runs of its first electric vehicle, the AFEELA 1, at Honda’s East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio. The trial phase, conducted under a contract manufacturing agreement with Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, involved integrating over 40 onboard sensors, dual panoramic display screens and advanced AI connectivity modules. Production runs began in December 2025, with 150 vehicles processed through the line to validate assembly workflows and electrical integration protocols. This marks the first time SHM has leveraged Honda’s existing capacity in North America, positioning the joint venture for a seamless transition to mass production in late 2026.
2. Quality Gate Inspection Facility Established
To safeguard the AFEELA brand’s promise of high reliability, SHM has opened a dedicated Quality Gate inspection facility adjacent to the East Liberty plant. The facility conducts two tiers of post-assembly validation: functional inspections of infotainment systems, sensor arrays and 5G connectivity modules; and exterior inspections evaluating panel gap tolerances, paint color accuracy and surface reflection uniformity. Inspection data—more than 200 data points per vehicle—is channeled in real time to SHM’s design and engineering teams, as well as back to Honda’s production supervisors, enabling iterative refinements in both vehicle design and manufacturing processes.
3. Delivery Timeline and Investor Implications
Sony Honda Mobility plans to begin customer deliveries of the AFEELA 1 in California during the second quarter of 2026, following completion of U.S. regulatory certification and final homologation tests. The venture projects an initial run rate of 5,000 units in 2026, scaling to 20,000 units by 2028 as additional production lines are brought online. For investors, the collaboration leverages Sony’s expertise in consumer electronics and AI platforms alongside Honda’s manufacturing scale, creating a differentiated EV offering in a market expected to reach 2.5 million annual sales in the U.S. by 2027. Continued monitoring of SHM’s capacity ramp and quality metrics will be critical to assessing its competitive positioning and return on invested capital.