Honda and Sony announced they have agreed to establish a new company to develop and sell electric vehicles (EVs) in conjunction with providing mobility services.
This new company is expected to plan, design, develop, and sell EVs, but not own and operate manufacturing facilities. Honda will be responsible for manufacturing the first EV model at its vehicle manufacturing plant, while Sony will develop the mobility service platform.
Sales of the first EV model from the new company are expected to start in 2025.
Final negotiations of the joint venture are still underway. The goal of establishing the new company within 2022.
“The new company will aim to stand at the forefront of innovation, evolution, and expansion of mobility around the world, by taking a broad and ambitious approach to creating value that exceeds the expectations and imagination of customers, said Toshihiro Mibe, CEO of Honda. "Although Sony and Honda are companies that share many historical and cultural similarities, our areas of technological expertise are very different. Therefore, I believe this alliance which brings together the strengths of our two companies offers great possibilities for the future of mobility.”
“Through this alliance with Honda, which has accumulated extensive global experience and achievements in the automobile industry over many years and continues to make revolutionary advancements in this field, we intend to build on our vision to ‘make the mobility space an emotional one,’ and contribute to the evolution of mobility centered around safety, entertainment, and adaptability,” said Kenichiro Yoshida, CEO of Sony.
