Quick Takeaways
- AFEELA 1 successfully completes pilot builds in Ohio, advancing toward series manufacturing readiness.
- Dedicated quality validation and controlled inspections set the foundation for a mid-2026 California market launch.
On January 2, Sony Honda Mobility Inc. confirmed that it has completed trial production runs of the AFEELA 1 electric vehicle, marking a critical step toward series manufacturing. The pilot builds were carried out on the production line of its contract manufacturing partner in East Liberty, Ohio, as part of final readiness activities ahead of mass production.
The trial phase focuses on validating manufacturing processes, assembly precision, and production-line integration for the AFEELA 1 electric vehicle. These early builds allow the company to assess repeatability, identify potential refinements, and ensure that all systems meet defined performance and quality benchmarks before full-scale output begins.
Quality assurance strategy for AFEELA 1 electric vehicle
Alongside trial production, the company has established a dedicated Quality Gate facility in East Liberty, Ohio. This inspection center adds an extra layer of evaluation beyond standard factory checks, ensuring vehicles align with both brand-specific requirements and established manufacturing quality standards.
The Quality Gate approach is designed to provide a comprehensive assessment through two focused inspection areas.
Function inspection
Beyond conventional build quality, inspections verify the operation of intelligent vehicle functions, including:
Exterior inspection
Detailed visual and surface-level checks ensure the exterior accurately reflects the design intent of the AFEELA brand, covering:
Production outlook and delivery timeline
Insights from trial production and Quality Gate inspections will be used to fine-tune processes ahead of mass manufacturing. With these preparations underway, the AFEELA 1 electric vehicle is scheduled to begin customer deliveries in California in mid-2026, positioning the model for a carefully controlled market introduction.
The trial phase focuses on validating manufacturing processes, assembly precision, and production-line integration for the AFEELA 1 electric vehicle. These early builds allow the company to assess repeatability, identify potential refinements, and ensure that all systems meet defined performance and quality benchmarks before full-scale output begins.
Quality assurance strategy for AFEELA 1 electric vehicle
Alongside trial production, the company has established a dedicated Quality Gate facility in East Liberty, Ohio. This inspection center adds an extra layer of evaluation beyond standard factory checks, ensuring vehicles align with both brand-specific requirements and established manufacturing quality standards.
The Quality Gate approach is designed to provide a comprehensive assessment through two focused inspection areas.
Function inspection
Beyond conventional build quality, inspections verify the operation of intelligent vehicle functions, including:
- In-vehicle infotainment system performance
- Sensor functionality and calibration
- Connectivity stability and system integration
Exterior inspection
Detailed visual and surface-level checks ensure the exterior accurately reflects the design intent of the AFEELA brand, covering:
- Body surface continuity and panel alignment
- Reflection consistency across painted surfaces
- Color accuracy and finish uniformity
Production outlook and delivery timeline
Insights from trial production and Quality Gate inspections will be used to fine-tune processes ahead of mass manufacturing. With these preparations underway, the AFEELA 1 electric vehicle is scheduled to begin customer deliveries in California in mid-2026, positioning the model for a carefully controlled market introduction.
Company Press Release
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