Home / Technology / PlayStation Car Dead: Sony's Electric Dream Fails
PlayStation Car Dead: Sony's Electric Dream Fails
25 Mar
Summary
- The Afeela 1, or PlayStation Car, has been officially canceled.
- The electric vehicle faced headwinds from a long rollout and changing EV market.
- Honda's cancellation of its 0 Series EVs removed Afeela's production platform.
The Afeela 1, a highly anticipated electric vehicle born from a collaboration between Sony and Honda, has been officially discontinued. The car, initially revealed in 2020 as the Sony Vision S, endured a lengthy six-year development period that ultimately proved detrimental to its market viability.
Key challenges facing the Afeela 1 included its projected $100,000 price tag and a modest 300-mile range, making it seem outdated before production. Furthermore, the electric vehicle market, once booming with incentives in 2020, became politically charged and faced shifting tariffs by 2026, diminishing consumer enthusiasm.
Sony's vision of integrating its media empire, including PlayStation gaming, was hampered by the slower-than-expected progress in autonomous driving technology. The vehicle also failed to impress aesthetically, with a design described as plain and lacking the premium appointments expected for its price point.
The final blow came as Honda, the production partner, began to scale back its American EV prospects and ultimately canceled its 0 Series EVs, removing the foundational platform for the Afeela 1. While Sony may explore future ventures, the PlayStation car dream appears to be over.
