Honda, Sony to establish firm for high-value-added EVs, mobility services

MANILA: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Sony Group Corporation announced that they have entered into a joint venture to establish a new firm that would offer high-value-added electric vehicles (EVs) and provide mobility services. The announcement is the conclusion of the discussion about forming a strategic partnership in the mobility sector between the parties.

The new company will aim to integrate Honda's cutting-edge environmental and safety technologies, mobility development capabilities, vehicle body production technology, and after-sales service management experience with Sony's expertise in the development and application of imaging, sensing, telecommunication, network, and entertainment technologies to usher in a new generation of mobility and mobility services that are deeply connected with users and the environment.

In a statement, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Director, President, Representative Executive Officer, and CEO Toshihiro Mibe said, “Honda continues to take on new challenges in the environmental, safety, and other advanced fields in order to be a driving force for social change through mobility, and ‘become the power that supports people around the world who are trying to do things based on their own initiative.’ We are very pleased to have signed a joint venture agreement with Sony, which has strengths in advanced digital technology, and shares our desire to take on new challenges. Since its announcement in March, many people have expressed their expectations for this joint venture. At the new company, we will strive to create new value through the fusion brought about by the combination of our different industries, so please look forward to future developments.”

For his part, Sony Group Corporation Representative Corporate Executive Officer, Chairman, and President Kenichiro Yoshida said, “Based on our vision to ‘make the mobility space an emotional one,’ Sony’s initiatives in the mobility business are centered around the three areas of safety, entertainment and adaptability. As we continue our learnings in these areas, we are excited to have met a partner, Honda, with extensive global achievements and knowledge, and to sign the joint venture agreement between the two companies. Going forward, we aim to contribute to the evolution of mobility by combining Honda’s cutting-edge environmental and safety technologies, mobility development capabilities, vehicle body manufacturing technology and after-sales service management experience, with our expertise in imaging, sensing, telecommunication, network and entertainment technologies.”

The new company is slated to be launched within the year. The sales of EVs and provision of mobility services are set to start in 2025. The formation of the new firm and the commencement of operations are subject to regulatory approval.

Sony Honda Mobility, Inc. Representative Director, Chairman, and CEO and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Senior Managing Officer Yasuhide Mizuno said, “We are very pleased to sign this joint venture agreement, which represents the start line from which we embark on the major challenge of revolutionizing mobility and creating new value. We plan to fully leverage the technological assets the two companies possess in different fields, such as Sony’s sensing technology and Honda’s original mobility development capabilities, to realize mobility and services that inspire and excite our customers. By bringing together the expertise of both companies, we aim to lead the way in a new era.”

Image from Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Also read: Honda Cars PH lists 7 reasons to go for the BR-V