Sony Honda Mobility has officially canceled the Afeela 1, the electric vehicle that aimed to transform your daily commute into a PlayStation gaming experience. The joint venture between Sony and Honda announced it is halting development and launch of the entire Afeela lineup, including the much-anticipated SUV concept. If you reserved one, expect a full refund soon.
The Afeela 1 was more than just another EV. It promised in-car gaming, movie streaming across multiple screens, Zoom calls, a voice assistant, and even generative AI features. The vehicle targeted Level 4 autonomous driving, enabling hands-free cruising on city streets and highways. A pre-production model and a new SUV concept made waves at CES 2026, standing out as some of the most impressive automotive tech on display.
Why the plug got pulled
The project’s cancellation comes as Honda drastically scales back its EV ambitions following a staggering $15.7 billion writedown. The company is facing its first annual loss in nearly 70 years. As part of this restructuring, Honda is scrapping the Honda 0 series and Acura RDX EVs in the U.S. It now says it cannot deliver the technology and assets originally promised for Afeela, leaving Sony Honda Mobility without a viable path forward.
SHM’s statement reads: “In light of this change, SHM has determined that it does not have a viable path forward to bring the Models to market as originally planned.” The joint venture will continue discussions with Sony and Honda about future possibilities, but for now, the dream of PlayStation on wheels is dead.
What this means for players and tech fans
The Afeela 1 was slated to arrive in California by year’s end, with early adopters already having placed reservations. Now, those buyers are left empty-handed. This cancellation is a major setback for anyone hoping to see console-quality gaming and next-gen entertainment integrated into their daily drive-at least from these two industry giants.
Honda’s retreat isn’t happening in isolation. The U.S. EV market has cooled, partly due to the rollback of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit and fierce competition from Chinese automakers offering more affordable models. Even as gas prices rise amid global instability, EV demand hasn’t rebounded enough to sustain ambitious projects like Afeela.
Speculation suggests that Honda’s late and heavy investment in EVs left it struggling to catch up with leaders like BYD and Tesla. The demise of Afeela signals that even big names can’t force their way into the EV-gaming crossover if timing and economics don’t align.
The bottom line
- The PlayStation-powered Afeela EV is canceled-reservation holders will receive refunds.
- Honda’s massive EV losses and retreat from the U.S. market ended the project.
- No word yet on whether Sony will pursue another partner or platform.