👋 Watts up? Sony and Honda’s long awaited Afeela 1 EV has just been revealed at CES. Starting at at $89k, it aims to rival other models like the Lucid Air and Tesla Model S, featuring technology like Level 3 self-driving and Sony’s 360 Reality Audio. Also, HEAR Technologies and AWS have released their SceneXtract platform, an AI-powered software designed to streamline the creation of real-world environments. Learn more on these stories, and others, in todays issue.

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QotD: When did Honda introduce their first electric vehicle?

MARKETS

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Sony’s Afeela 1 is now Available for Pre-Order

🚗 Sony has officially entered the electric vehicle market, opening pre-orders for its Afeela 1 EV. Initially available only to California residents, the vehicle comes in two trims: the Origin, starting at $89,900, and the Signature, starting at $102,900. Deliveries for the Signature and Origin expected in 2026 and 2027, respectively.

• The Afeela 1, developed with Honda, aims to rival luxury EVs like the Lucid Air and Tesla Model S Plaid.

• It features a 482 hp all-wheel-drive powertrain, a 91 kWh battery, and a 300-mile EPA-estimated range.

• Advanced technology includes Level 2+ ADAS, LIDAR, and future-ready Level 3 self-driving capabilities.

• Interior highlights include a dashboard-wide screen, Sony’s 360 Reality Audio, and Dolby Atmos.

Combining innovative tech with premium design, the Afeela 1 represents Sony’s ambitious EV debut, though its success will depend on its appeal in the competitive EV market.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Mazda to Build new Automotive Battery Plant

🔋 Mazda Motor Corporation has announced plans to build a facility in Iwakuni City, Japan, for assembling cylindrical lithium-ion battery modules using Panasonic Energy cells. The plant, key to Mazda’s EV strategy, will have an annual production capacity of 10 GWh and support the brand’s dedicated EV platform.

• The facility supports Mazda’s 2030 Management Policy, aiming for sustainable innovation and regulatory compliance.

• Panasonic Energy will supply the cylindrical batteries, formalising a partnership initiated in May 2023.

• Certified by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the project ensures a stable storage battery supply.

• The plant will produce high-quality battery packs for Mazda EVs, designed for performance, convenience, and sustainability.

• Local economic growth and job creation are expected outcomes of the new facility.

Mazda’s vision combines sustainability with its “Joy of Driving” ethos, balancing cutting-edge technology and driving pleasure to create compelling EV solutions by 2030.

CLEAN ENERGY

Grenergy Secures Funding for World’s Largest Battery Project

☀️ Grenergy has secured $324 million in financing for Phase 4 of its Oasis de Atacama project in Chile, marking a milestone for the world’s largest battery project. This phase, known as Gabriela, includes a 269 MW solar capacity and 1.1 GWh of energy storage. Financing was provided by a consortium of international banks, including BNP Paribas and Société Générale, which also supported earlier phases.

• Total investment in Oasis de Atacama has reached $967 million across four phases.

• Grenergy sold 23% of the project’s earlier phases to ContourGlobal for up to $962 million, boosting cash flow and reducing leverage.

• The project highlights Chile’s strategic importance to Grenergy, with plans to expand its successful model to other markets.

• Grenergy’s Chilean operations manage a pipeline of 14.5 GWh in storage and 3.25 GW in solar energy.

Grenergy continues to lead in renewable energy, blending solar power with battery storage to drive sustainable growth in Latin America and beyond.

TECHNOLOGIES

HERE Technologies and AWS Reveal new AI-Powered Technology

📱 HERE Technologies has launched SceneXtract, a software tool designed to streamline the creation of real-world environments for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Automated Driving (AD) simulations. Developed in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), SceneXtract transforms real-world data into simulation-ready formats, significantly reducing manual effort and time.

• SceneXtract leverages HERE HD Live Map, providing precise, continuously updated road data used by systems from brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

• The tool integrates AWS services like Amazon Bedrock, utilising AI to identify and export map data into the OpenDrive format for simulation testing.

• Key benefits include faster development, reduced costs, and scalable, high-accuracy solutions for ADAS and AD validation.

• Planned enhancements for 2025 will include pre-packaged scenes for specific scenarios, such as SAE L2+ systems and complex edge cases.

By merging HERE’s mapping expertise with AWS’s AI capabilities, SceneXtract offers a cutting-edge solution to advance autonomous mobility testing efficiently and effectively.

WE’RE AT CES!

We will be at the Consumer Electronics Show from the 7th to the 10th of January.

If you want to meet us, or want us to visit your stall, get in touch here.

We’ll see you there!

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Answer: 1997

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