electric car brand called 'Afeela' which is powered by Qualcomm chips. Last year, consumer tech giant Sony and global automaker Honda confirmed the launch of a t company that would usher in a new lineup of EVs. Based on the arrangement, Sony would be responsible for the technological features, while Honda would handle the actual production of the vehicles.
At CES 2023, Sony Honda Mobility Inc. (SHM) revealed the prototype for its new car brand. What separates the new manufacturer from legacy automakers is SHM’s ambition to advance mobility-based innovation. According to the press release, Afeela symbolizes “feel” which is said to be at the “center of the mobility experience.” The Afeela and SHM’s future lineup of EVs will use SoCs from Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon Digital Chassis. These chips will power the cars' advanced driving systems, next-gen infotainment features, and telematics. The company will use Epic Games' Unreal Engine technology to design interfaces for the vehicle.
The Afeela Is Aiming For Level 3 Autonomy
The concept version features a digital-themed design that's headlined by a 'Media Bar' – a narrow strip placed between the headlights. The bar can display different information such as the weather, charging status and more, interacting with people outside the vehicle. Inside, there's a wide, panoramic touchscreen that spans the length of the dashboard. The rest of the car's interiors are minimalistic, with the emphasis on its digital features. The exterior design, on the other hand, is inspired by a spaceship.
The Afeela is aiming to provide Level 3 autonomy which, if released on a commercial scale, should give the available Level 2 driving assistance technologies serious competition. However, the Level 3 system will be used in select conditions and is still in development. At the moment, even Tesla only offers Level 2 autonomy for Autopilot and FSD Beta. The concept model has 45 cameras and sensors installed inside and outside. The combination of in-car cameras and Time-of-Flight (TOF) sensors will monitor the driver’s behavior to avoid crashes. The system will be powered by Qualcomm's chips.
The car will also customize the experience based on the driver's preferences using cloud connectivity. Using sensing innovations, SHM hopes to offer instinctive navigation through augmented reality (AR) technology. The automaker intends to open its intelligent mobility efforts to of the automotive and creative industries. Over-the-air software updates delivered over 5G will constantly improve the Afeela’s performance. Sony and Honda have confirmed that the production version will be based on this prototype, and pre-orders should commence in the first half of 2025. Deliveries of the Afeela will begin by Spring 2026 in North America.
Source: Afeela