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After Making Its U.S. Debut BY Late 2025, AFEELA Aims To Enter The Japanese Market In The Latter Half Of 2026
2 min read
By Michael Phoon • September 27, 2024
Sony Honda Mobility has announced an agreement with Tesla to adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS) for its upcoming AFEELA electric vehicles (EVs), which marks the introduction of NACS to the Japanese market.
AFEELA, the EV brand born from the partnership between Japanese giants Sony and Honda, is set to make its debut in the highly competitive EV market according to AFEELA. With this latest announcement, AFEELA is demonstrating its goal of providing cutting-edge EV offerings and convenience to its future buyers.
The adoption of NACS by Sony Honda Mobility is significant for several reasons:
Sony Honda Mobility has announced an ambitious timeline for the launch of its AFEELA brand. In the first half of 2025, pre-orders for AFEELA vehicles will open in the United States, setting the stage for the brand’s entry into the market.
By late 2025, sales are expected to officially begin in the U.S., with the first deliveries scheduled for the spring of 2026. Following its U.S. debut, AFEELA plans to expand into the Japanese market in the second half of 2026.
Yasuhide Mizuno, Representative Director, Chairman and CEO of Sony Honda Mobility Inc., emphasized the customer-centric approach behind the decision: “We prioritize customer convenience even in charging and have decided to adopt NACS. We sincerely thank Tesla for providing us the opportunity to adopt NACS as well as their latest and advanced technology-equipped V3 and V4 Superchargers for AFEELA.”
The adoption of NACS by AFEELA could have far-reaching implications for the Japanese EV market:
It is worth noting that while AFEELA will be the first to sell NACS vehicles in Japan, several other Japanese automakers including Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Subaru, and Mazda, have already announced their switch to NACS for models sold in North America.
Max de Zegher, Director of Charging at Tesla, highlighted the significance of this move for the Japanese market stating, “In Japan, 90% of 150kW+ chargers are Superchargers. True to Tesla’s mission, we also want to be helpful to companies going electric, and improve charging experiences for all EV drivers. That’s why we’re excited to see the North American Charging Standard (NACS) gaining traction in Japan.”
As Sony Honda Mobility prepares to enter the EV market with its AFEELA brand, the adoption of NACS demonstrates the company’s commitment to innovation and customer convenience. By aligning with Tesla’s charging standard, SHM is positioning itself at the forefront of EV technology in Japan and beyond.
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