EVs from Japanese tech giant Sony appear to be on the horizon
05 Jan 2022|228 views
The auto industry is known for its insurmountably high barriers to entry, but it may soon be getting a brand new player in the field - well, depending on how one defines 'brand new'.
On 4 January at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Japanese conglomerate Sony pulled the covers off the prototype of a brand new electric SUV, named VISION-S 02. While this in itself was already exciting news, perhaps more significant was the company's announcement of a new division, 'Sony Mobility Inc.', through which it intends to "explore entry into the EV market".
Think it will be weird to see a SONY badge on the steering wheel? Fear not; the VISION-S EVs are getting their own emblem (Pictured: VISION-S 02) The announcement of a new electric car venture may understandably draw scepticism in a world where promises are large and innumerable, and actual deliveries, few and far between. Most recently, Dyson, another premium electronics giant, pulled the plug from its electric car (originally planned to be manufactured right here in Singapore), citing its concern that the project was "commercially unviable".
But Sony's approach to its electric vehicles has been different thus far from the many start-ups we've seen - cautious, unhurried and thus, quite promising.
It's worth noting that it's taken the company two years since it unveiled the VISION-S sedan at CES 2020 to officially confirm its venture into the EV space (the VISION-S was largely wrapped in the narrative of wanting to further the technology of sensors back then). In between, working prototypes of the car have already undergone road tests.
The cars will apparently incorporate a total of 40 sensors, including radar, cameras, and LIDAR If (or when) they eventually do get built, the electric sedan and SUV will apparently be laden with heaps of proprietary tech, including AI, 5G and cloud technologies. Sony says these will work towards "continuously updating and evolving the car's functionalities".
True to the tack that the company originally took, the electric vehicles will also be built with a system featuring more radars and sensors than one can count with two hands, and will be aiming for between Level 2 to Level 3 autonomous driving classification right off the bat. At the moment, however, details on other crucial components, such as the underpinning platform, battery, and drivetrain, are still scant.
The VISION-S cars are already promising to be drenched in new tech (while boasting the best infotainment systems) While it's still too early to tell where things are headed, Sony's long history with tech may just play to its advantage. Its announcement now brings to mind news that we've heard from Xiaomi and Apple, except that unlike them, Sony has actually presented us with fully-formed prototypes.
One can only imagine what an established maker of smartphones, cameras, home entertainment devices and most importantly of course, the PlayStation, will be able to bring to the table of the auto industry. Is it safe to say that the VISION-S and VISION-S 02 are poised to have the most kick-ass infotainment systems the world will have seen if they get made? We think so.
On 4 January at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Japanese conglomerate Sony pulled the covers off the prototype of a brand new electric SUV, named VISION-S 02. While this in itself was already exciting news, perhaps more significant was the company's announcement of a new division, 'Sony Mobility Inc.', through which it intends to "explore entry into the EV market".
But Sony's approach to its electric vehicles has been different thus far from the many start-ups we've seen - cautious, unhurried and thus, quite promising.
It's worth noting that it's taken the company two years since it unveiled the VISION-S sedan at CES 2020 to officially confirm its venture into the EV space (the VISION-S was largely wrapped in the narrative of wanting to further the technology of sensors back then). In between, working prototypes of the car have already undergone road tests.
True to the tack that the company originally took, the electric vehicles will also be built with a system featuring more radars and sensors than one can count with two hands, and will be aiming for between Level 2 to Level 3 autonomous driving classification right off the bat. At the moment, however, details on other crucial components, such as the underpinning platform, battery, and drivetrain, are still scant.
One can only imagine what an established maker of smartphones, cameras, home entertainment devices and most importantly of course, the PlayStation, will be able to bring to the table of the auto industry. Is it safe to say that the VISION-S and VISION-S 02 are poised to have the most kick-ass infotainment systems the world will have seen if they get made? We think so.
The auto industry is known for its insurmountably high barriers to entry, but it may soon be getting a brand new player in the field - well, depending on how one defines 'brand new'.
On 4 January at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Japanese conglomerate Sony pulled the covers off the prototype of a brand new electric SUV, named VISION-S 02. While this in itself was already exciting news, perhaps more significant was the company's announcement of a new division, 'Sony Mobility Inc.', through which it intends to "explore entry into the EV market".
Think it will be weird to see a SONY badge on the steering wheel? Fear not; the VISION-S EVs are getting their own emblem (Pictured: VISION-S 02) The announcement of a new electric car venture may understandably draw scepticism in a world where promises are large and innumerable, and actual deliveries, few and far between. Most recently, Dyson, another premium electronics giant, pulled the plug from its electric car (originally planned to be manufactured right here in Singapore), citing its concern that the project was "commercially unviable".
But Sony's approach to its electric vehicles has been different thus far from the many start-ups we've seen - cautious, unhurried and thus, quite promising.
It's worth noting that it's taken the company two years since it unveiled the VISION-S sedan at CES 2020 to officially confirm its venture into the EV space (the VISION-S was largely wrapped in the narrative of wanting to further the technology of sensors back then). In between, working prototypes of the car have already undergone road tests.
The cars will apparently incorporate a total of 40 sensors, including radar, cameras, and LIDAR If (or when) they eventually do get built, the electric sedan and SUV will apparently be laden with heaps of proprietary tech, including AI, 5G and cloud technologies. Sony says these will work towards "continuously updating and evolving the car's functionalities".
True to the tack that the company originally took, the electric vehicles will also be built with a system featuring more radars and sensors than one can count with two hands, and will be aiming for between Level 2 to Level 3 autonomous driving classification right off the bat. At the moment, however, details on other crucial components, such as the underpinning platform, battery, and drivetrain, are still scant.
The VISION-S cars are already promising to be drenched in new tech (while boasting the best infotainment systems) While it's still too early to tell where things are headed, Sony's long history with tech may just play to its advantage. Its announcement now brings to mind news that we've heard from Xiaomi and Apple, except that unlike them, Sony has actually presented us with fully-formed prototypes.
One can only imagine what an established maker of smartphones, cameras, home entertainment devices and most importantly of course, the PlayStation, will be able to bring to the table of the auto industry. Is it safe to say that the VISION-S and VISION-S 02 are poised to have the most kick-ass infotainment systems the world will have seen if they get made? We think so.
On 4 January at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Japanese conglomerate Sony pulled the covers off the prototype of a brand new electric SUV, named VISION-S 02. While this in itself was already exciting news, perhaps more significant was the company's announcement of a new division, 'Sony Mobility Inc.', through which it intends to "explore entry into the EV market".
But Sony's approach to its electric vehicles has been different thus far from the many start-ups we've seen - cautious, unhurried and thus, quite promising.
It's worth noting that it's taken the company two years since it unveiled the VISION-S sedan at CES 2020 to officially confirm its venture into the EV space (the VISION-S was largely wrapped in the narrative of wanting to further the technology of sensors back then). In between, working prototypes of the car have already undergone road tests.
True to the tack that the company originally took, the electric vehicles will also be built with a system featuring more radars and sensors than one can count with two hands, and will be aiming for between Level 2 to Level 3 autonomous driving classification right off the bat. At the moment, however, details on other crucial components, such as the underpinning platform, battery, and drivetrain, are still scant.
One can only imagine what an established maker of smartphones, cameras, home entertainment devices and most importantly of course, the PlayStation, will be able to bring to the table of the auto industry. Is it safe to say that the VISION-S and VISION-S 02 are poised to have the most kick-ass infotainment systems the world will have seen if they get made? We think so.
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