Sony Honda Mobility of America announced Wednesday, July 30, the start of pre-production trials for the AFEELA 1, its first all-electric vehicle, at Honda’s East Liberty Auto Plant.
This milestone marks a significant step toward delivering a groundbreaking EV that blends intelligence, innovation and craftsmanship. Mass production of AFEELA 1 is set to begin in 2026.
The insights gathered from the pre-production trials are already informing further refinements as the East Liberty Auto Plant prepares to launch full-scale production operations.
“Leveraging Honda’s expertise as our contract manufacturing partner, combined with Sony Honda Mobility’s additional quality standards and inspections based on our standards, we are committed to delivering AFEELA 1’s design with exceptional precision and refined quality. The journey toward this vision has already begun in Ohio,” said Shugo Yamaguchi, Sony Honda Mobility of America Inc. president and CEO.
During the pre-production trials, the team at the East Liberty Auto Plant verifies part compatibility, assembly precision and paint quality to ensure production readiness at the highest standards.
The AFEELA 1 pre-production trials demonstrate acute attention to detail. Teams at the plant adjust panel gaps to sub-millimeter precision while skilled technicians carefully inspect each component and process, engaging in detailed discussions to identify and solve challenges for mass production.
This meticulous process underpins the craftmanship of AFEELA. At the production site, custom-built jigs developed exclusively for AFEELA 1 enable unparalleled precision and consistency. Each step in the manufacturing process contributes to the quality that defines AFEELA.
AFEELA 1’s exterior design is defined by smooth, solid surfaces with minimal lines, which requires uncompromising surface quality.
AFEELA 1’s sleek body is designed to reflect light and mirror its surrounding environment. This feature is due to a specialized polishing process unique to AFEELA which requires continuous refinements, including sanding and paint texture.
Chris Woodard, plant lead for East Liberty Auto Plant, Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, LLC, said, “We are proud to be entrusted by Sony Honda Mobility to manufacture AFEELA 1 here in Ohio.
“The quality standards set by Sony Honda Mobility are exceptionally high and challenging, but with over 35 years of automotive experience and craftsmanship, we’re confident in our ability to meet them.”
Currently under construction, the Sony Honda Mobility Quality Gate will serve as the final production checkpoint for AFEELA. After being manufactured, inspected, and shipped from the East Liberty Auto Plant, each vehicle will undergo an additional layer of proprietary quality checks unique to Sony Honda Mobility. The dedicated Quality Gate reflects the company’s commitment to delivering AFEELA with confidence, quality and care to customers, officials said.
Sony Honda Mobility will continue to share behind-the-scenes looks at development and manufacturing as they approach AFEELA 1 delivery.