TOKYO, Oct 13 (Reuters) – A joint venture created by Japan’s Sony Group Corp (6758.T) and Honda Motor (7267.T) aims to deliver its first electric vehicles by 2026 and will sell them online, at from the United States and Japan.

The new electric vehicle will also come at a premium price, offering a new Sony-developed software system that would pave the way for recurring revenue from entertainment and other services that would be billed monthly, the companies said.

The update from the joint venture, Sony Honda Mobility, is the first since the two companies launched the project in June.

Key details including pricing, battery life and even the new vehicle’s platform have not been determined, but representatives from the new company have detailed a vision of a vehicle that would perform almost like a rolling smartphone.

Sony will provide the new car’s software system, from in-car controllers to cloud-based services that will connect to entertainment and payment systems.

It will also provide sensors and other technologies for a Level 3 autonomous driving system that will allow drivers to pay more attention to the content and software services that will be offered.

In Level 3 systems, also known as limited self-driving automation, drivers can drive without looking at the road or handling the steering wheel on the highway, but must be prepared to take control back.

Tesla (TSLA.O), General Motors (GM.N), Ford Motor Co (FN) and Mercedes Benz (MBGn.DE) all offer some form of hands-free driver assistance systems.

“As safe driving technology will continue to evolve and the concentration required to drive will be reduced, we should consider new ways to enjoy and spend time in the cabin space as a whole,” Izumi said. Kawanishi, president and general manager of the joint venture. at Sony.

Honda will decide which platform the new vehicle will use and details like the battery supplier. The yet-to-be-named electric vehicle will likely be made by Honda at one of its Ohio plants.

Honda, like its great rival Toyota Motor (7203.T), has been slow to switch its fleet to electric. It has also struggled over the years to make gains in the luxury vehicle market with its Acura brand.

Yasuhide Mizuno, chairman and CEO of the joint venture and senior Honda executive, said the project was important for Honda to develop a “longer-term relationship” with its car buyers as the vehicle evolves to become more of a connected device.

Mizuno said Honda believes 2025 will be a pivotal year in the transition to electric vehicles in the U.S. market and the joint venture believes it needs to reach that opening, even if it means a compressed development cycle for the new electric vehicle. .

The new electric vehicle will be delivered to the Japanese market in the second half of 2026. The two companies are considering a launch for Europe, but no plan has been defined. Orders for the new electric vehicle are expected to open in 2025, the companies said.

($1 = 146.8300 yen)

Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama; Editing by Ana Nicolaci da Costa

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