Used To Make Game Consoles, Now Sony Is Trying To Become An Electric Car Company This Year

Sony Group Corp. plans to launch a company to enter the electric vehicle market. (photo: Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Sony Group Corp. plans to launch a company to enter the electric vehicle market, leveraging its strengths in entertainment and sensors to play a bigger role in next-generation mobility.

The Japan-based company, better known for its TVs and video game consoles, will set up a subsidiary Sony Mobility in the first half of 2022.

With the launch of Sony Mobility, it means that Sony will join a number of electric and technology companies that have shown interest in developing their own electric cars in recent times.

"With our imaging and sensing, cloud, 5G, and entertainment technologies combined with our mastery of content, we believe Sony is well-positioned as a creative entertainment company to redefine mobility," said Sony chairman and president Kenichiro Yoshida.

Announced at IoT CES 2022, although its once dominant position in consumer electronics has been eroded by Asian rivals such as Samsung Electronics, Sony still has an arsenal of advanced technologies in areas such as sensors essential for autonomous driving.

The company also remains one of the largest entertainment industries in the world, home to leading video game and film franchises. However, audio and entertainment systems are increasingly becoming the focus of next-generation vehicles.

Along with this announcement, Yoshida also unveiled a prototype sport utility vehicle (SUV), the VISION-S 02, which uses the same electric vehicle platform as the previously announced VISION-S 01 coupe, and has started testing in Europe from December 2020.

Sony commenced safety and user experience verification tests of the imaging and sensing technologies installed inside the VISION-S 01 and outside the vehicle, as well as the human-machine interface (HMI) system.

In April 2021, Sony began testing driving 5G and will continue to apply its cutting-edge technology to deliver new experiences in the mobility field, which is undergoing a shift to electric vehicles.

In addition, Yoshida said the company does see mobility as an entertainment space where passengers can choose individual entertainment options and use a 5G internet connection.

Finally, Sony is not alone in straying from its path, while Apple Inc. is expected to launch its own vehicle in the next few years.