Sony and Honda's joint venture, Sony Honda Mobility, has finally revealed the pricing and pre-order details for its highly anticipated electric vehicle, Afeela. The luxury EV will come in two trims: the $89,900 Afeela 1 Origin and the $102,900 Afeela 1 Signature. Interested buyers can now place a refundable $200 deposit to secure their spot in line to purchase the vehicle.

The Afeela, first unveiled as a concept in 2020, has undergone significant developments since its inception. The vehicle boasts a sleek sedan design, reminiscent of a Tesla and Lucid Air mashup, with a plethora of interior touchscreens. It also features 45 sensors and cameras for semi-autonomous driving assistance, all-wheel drive, and hints at augmented reality integration and "virtual worlds" embedded into the driving experience.

One notable aspect of the Afeela is its software, which is expected to offer subscription services. This means that vehicle owners will likely need to pay a monthly fee to access certain features, such as streaming video. This approach is reminiscent of the software-as-a-service model commonly seen in the tech industry.

The Afeela's pricing and features position it as a competitor in the luxury EV space, alongside established players like Tesla and Lucid. Sony Honda Mobility's decision to enter the electric vehicle market comes at a time when demand for EVs in the US has stabilized, following a spike and subsequent flatlining. The Biden administration's generous incentives for EV buyers are also expected to be eliminated by the incoming Trump administration, adding another layer of complexity to the market.

Meanwhile, Honda's recent merger with Nissan aims to better compete with Chinese companies in the EV space. China has emerged as the world's dominant EV producer, and Honda's partnership with Sony is seen as a strategic move to stay competitive in this landscape.

Sony Honda Mobility will hold another press conference tomorrow to outline the customer experience of shopping for and owning an Afeela. This will likely provide further insight into the company's plans for the vehicle's sales and ownership process.

As the electric vehicle market continues to evolve, the Afeela's entry is a significant development. With its unique blend of technology and luxury features, it will be interesting to see how the vehicle fares in the market and what impact it will have on the broader EV landscape.