Overview
- Sony Honda Mobility, which on Wednesday ended development of the Afeela 1 and a planned second model, said California reservation holders will receive full refunds.
- The joint venture said Honda's March 12 electrification reset pulled the e:Architecture platform and other promised assets after Honda cited lost U.S. EV tax credits, tariff pressures, and tougher Chinese competition.
- The halt came just days after the brand opened an Afeela Studio and Delivery Hub in Torrance, signaling how abruptly the plans unraveled for early customers expecting deliveries later this year.
- The Afeela 1 had been positioned as a $89,900 premium sedan with about 300 miles of range and a 40-sensor safety and perception suite, with a follow-on SUV previously targeted as early as 2028.
- The company said it will now review options with Sony and Honda, underscoring how an asset-light model that leans on a partner's hardware can collapse when that partner changes course.