Tag Archives: Sony Honda Mobility

Screen Gem

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LG Display’s big display goes into production for Sony Honda Mobility. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

The AFEELA 1 from Sony Honda Mobility is expected to have initial deliveries in mid-2026.

According to the company, the AFEELA 1 “pursues an interactive relationship between people and vehicles through the integration of advanced software and high-performance hardware, resulting in intelligent mobility.”

Presumably part of that “interactive relationship” is based on the screen that goes from A-pillar to A-pillar.

LG Display announced that it has started mass production of the 40-inch screen, which it says is the first of its type.

That’s a lot of screen. (Image: Sony Honda Mobility)

According to the company the screen “raises user convenience by allowing the simultaneous display of advanced infotainment functions, from a digital dashboard and navigation to climate control, movies, music, and even games – all without screen transitions.”

Of course, having a driver watch a movie while driving certainly isn’t ideal (and illegal). The screen features something called “Switchable Privacy Mode” that uses “viewing angle control technology.” This means the driver can’t see what’s visible on the screen to the front passenger.

And because energy conservation is something that is important for electric vehicles, the screen has “local dimming technology,” which reduces both heat generation and power consumption.

Who would have thought a screen in a car would generate heat?

Of course, who thought a screen in a car would be 40 inches long?

Sony Honda Mobility: Huh?

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By Gary S. Vasilash

That Sony and Honda announced last fall that they were forming Sony Honda Mobility was certainly curious. Perhaps Sony execs felt a compulsion to get into automotive because its long-time rival Panasonic has been supplying electric vehicle batteries for the past several years, and it wanted to get into the vehicle space, as well.

And as for Honda—well, given that it is a comparatively small OEM, it needs to establish partnerships where it can, so having already signed up with GM, going with Sony is probably considered to be a useful thing for no other reason than the electronics manufacturer has lots of tech, and that’s certainly useful to an OEM.

AFEELA prototype: yes, a sedan. (Image: Sony Honda Mobility)

SHM revealed the name of its new brand, AFEELA, and a prototype vehicle to accompany it. While there are some who criticize the name, odds are people looked askance at “Trinitron” back in 1968 and “Acura” in 1986.

But here’s a curious thing about it:

The company says that it aims “to create a new mobility lifestyle by leading people’s hearts and minds towards an open, pleasant and exciting experience. To realize this, we aim to revolutionize the mobility space as a Mobility Tech Company, alongside like-minded people who are pioneering a new future with creativity, through cutting-edge technology, and with passion.”

And it introduced a car.

Somehow the goals and the delivery mechanism seem rather disconnected.

A car.