At CES 2022, Sony has not only rolled out its previously announced Vision-S EV, but has presented a new concept SUV called the Vision-S 02. More concretely, Sony also announced the launch – in spring this year – of Sony Mobility, an operating company that will focus on electric cars and allow Sony to explore entry into the electric vehicles (EV) market.
Sony had previously announced the Vision-S EV, and exhibited a prototype vehicle, at CES 2020. The company began public road testing in Europe in December of the same year, and also started verification tests of the safety and user experience of the imaging and sensing technology installed inside and outside the vehicle. Sony began 5G driving tests in April 2021.
The company plans to further develop its efforts as it apparently enters a new phase of Vision-S development.
The new phase will be bookmarked by the establishment of ‘Sony Mobility Inc’ in spring this year. Indeed, the purpose of the company is, according to Sony, to further accelerate and make new proposals that further evolve the mobility experience.
“We are exploring a commercial launch of Sony’s EV,” Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida confirmed.
The new company will aim to make the best use of AI and robotics technologies and “help realize a world where everyone can live in harmony with robots on a daily basis, fill people with emotion, and contribute to society”. With Vision-S, which contributes to the evolution of mobility, together with the autonomous entertainment robot aibo, and the drone Airpeak, the company is aiming to “create new value in a variety of fields”.
Furthermore, at this year’s CES, Sony also announced and exhibited an SUV-type prototype vehicle, the Vision-S 02. The prototype uses the same EV/cloud platform as the prototype Vision-S 01, which is being tested on public roads.
By offering entertainment experiences that make use of the large interior space and variations of a 7-seater, the new prototype will aim, together with Vision-S 01, to promote the accommodation of a large variety of lifestyles, according to Sony.
