Sony cooperates with Honda
Old acquaintance
Sony Vision S 01 / 02
© press-inform – the press office
At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this January, Sony caused a stir in the car scene for the second time with its study of an electric crossover. Many pondered whether the Japanese entertainment group really wants to go under the car manufacturers. Now it has been announced that Sony wants to cooperate with Honda.
Two years ago, Sony, as one of the largest entertainment companies in the world, landed a surprise coup at CES 2020, which was repeated this year with the study of an electric crossover. The Japanese entertainment group is turning a painful nose at competitor Apple in particular, which may not be able to make any progress with the car project. Many saw the Sony Vision-S 01 in January 2020 as a media-effective trade fair stunt intended to cause headaches for Apple and established car manufacturers. When you think of Sony, Walkman, gigantic screens and the Playstation in particular come to mind. At this year’s CES, the belief in a possible entry into the car business was strengthened – also because Sony has had its Vision-S 01 developed by cooperation partner Magna in Graz for a long time.
Now it has become known that Sony and Honda have signed a memorandum of understanding on a strategic alliance in the field of mobility. “The collaboration between Honda and Sony, which focuses on battery electric vehicles, demonstrates Sony’s future mobility plans, which have been anticipated since the EV prototype was unveiled at CES in 2020 and later in 2022,” explains Bakar Sadik Agwan , Analyst at Global Data, “The collaboration will combine Honda’s capabilities in vehicle manufacturing, components and battery production/assembly with Sony’s expertise in imaging, sensing, in-vehicle infotainment, connected and autonomous technology.”
The car industry in general is not new territory for Sony, because as a supplier of image sensors and electronic components such as infotainment systems, the Japanese have had commercial relationships with various car manufacturers for many years. The question remains how much Sony could present itself in a technical cooperation with an Asian car manufacturer like Honda if central areas of the vehicle such as the manufacture and development of drive components, batteries and motors come from Honda. With the small Honda E, the Japanese car manufacturer has an electric small car in its range that not only makes a name for itself with its design, but also with its screen system and/or the cameras instead of exterior mirrors and competes in a class of Mini Cooper SE or Opel Corsa E.
“The move suggests that Sony’s vision for the future is to put its brand name on battery-powered vehicles, but only act as a technology partner and not as an EV manufacturer, as this requires expertise, high spending, higher volume and limited profit margins,” says Bakar Sadik Agwan, “This is in contrast to other businesses such as consumer electronics, photography, infotainment and video game production where Sony has a presence.”
Visually and technically, the 4.90 meter long electric crossover Vision S-02, which celebrated its premiere at CES 2022, is closely related to the debut of the Sony Vision-S 01, with visible similarities to the Porsche Macan or Tesla Model Y CES 2022 in Las Vegas again parked right next to it. Electric motors, each with 200 kW / 272 hp, provide the drive, which means a maximum output of 400 kW / 544 hp. From a standing start, the all-wheel-drive vehicle, weighing 2,480 kilograms, accelerates to 100 km/h in around five seconds and reaches a governed top speed of 240 km/h. A variable air suspension, which can variably adjust the ground clearance of around 15.4 centimetres, ensures appropriate comfort.
Like its sedan brother, the Sony Vision S-02 is equipped with a safety zone that supports the driver and passengers in everyday driving situations by detecting hazards 360 degrees around the vehicle and minimizing the risks in road traffic. The interior is not only safe, but also very spacious, not least thanks to the 3.03 meter long wheelbase. At the front, the occupants look at several large displays that form the dashboard and instead of exterior mirrors, two displays provide information about the area behind and next to the vehicle. The crossover is planned as a four- or seven-seater. Various cameras and more than 30 high-tech sensors, which are built into the Vision-S and enable the best possible object recognition, for example through lidar technology, ensure maximum safety in the Sony study. Even in the interior, sensors with object recognition and gesture control ensure perfect infotainment and maximum safety.
Bakar Sadik Agwan: “It will be interesting to see if Sony’s EV plan can make a difference at a time when new entrants like tech giant Foxconn are ramping up their EV manufacturing capabilities. On the other hand, it’s also the best opportunity for Sony to work with one of the largest automakers in the world. Electric cars will likely be defined less by their powertrains and more by the strength of their technology packages, and this is where Sony has the potential to make a big impact.” Perhaps the cooperation with Honda is just a step in the right direction to play a larger role as a system supplier in the electric vehicles of tomorrow. Because with the switch from combustion engines to electric motors and driver assistance systems becoming increasingly important, the interior of a car is becoming more and more important as a living space. This is where Sony’s expertise in designing displays and in areas such as telecommunications, networking and entertainment could pay off.