Elektrobit has become a provider of software and services for the Sony Honda Mobility (SHM) AFEELA prototype, which was unveiled at CES 2023. The company is in a multi-year collaboration with Sony and Sony Honda Mobility to develop software-defined vehicle technology. The partnership began in 2019 around the development of the first two Sony VISION-S prototype vehicles. The new AFEELA brand vehicles are planned to enter commercial production in 2025.

Elektrobit developed the cockpit system including software for the Qualcomm high-performance computing processors and the software stack up to the UX design powering all cockpit displays. The company has also provided integration services for the cockpit system encompassing all software and hardware components and applications from Sony and its partners.

Software-defined technology is central to the AFEELA prototype. Through the digital cockpit system, Sony has integrated its latest audio and camera sensor technologies as well as gaming, movie and music content. SHM also announced a partnership with Epic Games to exploit further the potential of the cockpit.

“The Sony Honda Mobility AFEELA prototype is the epitome of software and service integration in a vehicle. It represents a unique user environment that enables the fusion of comprehensive contextual awareness including location, vehicle status, and even the driver’s and passengers’ emotions. The proper software portfolio enables an entirely new experience that is enriching, stimulating and safe. Elektrobit is the ideal software expert to bring that proposition to life,” said Roger Lanctot, director, Automotive Connected Mobility, TechInsights.

“We’re extremely proud to be the strategic software partner of Sony Honda Mobility on its groundbreaking AFEELA prototype project,” said Maria Anhalt, CEO, Elektrobit. “Together with SHM we are redefining mobility around the vision of creating a new more inspirational and emotional type of user experience. Software is the starting point of this. There is an immense amount of computing power packed into this car which creates all kinds of user experience possibilities, and it challenged us to meet a new level of demands in terms of systems architecture. As a result, we have been able to play a much more central role in this project than in a traditional OEM to supplier relationship and the AFEELA prototype really highlights the potential benefits of this shift towards a software-first mindset. We are excited to continue the journey.”