What just happened? Sony and Honda announced at CES that pre-orders are officially open for their upcoming 'Afeela' EV. However, only customers in California can make reservations right now, with no clarification on when it will be open to buyers across the rest of the country. The mid-size sedan, which is roughly the same size as a Honda Accord, will come in two trims: the base Afeela 1 Origin priced at $89,900 and the premium Afeela 1 Signature, costing $102,900. Both are available for pre-order through a refundable $200 deposit.Deliveries for the Origin will begin in mid-2026, but the Signature won't start shipping until 2027. Both trims will include a complimentary three-year subscription to multiple smart features, including a Level 2+ driver assist system and an AI-powered personal assistant. Curiously, the Origin will only be offered in a 'Core Black' color, while the Signature is listed with three color options.At the CES press event, Sony Honda Mobility CEO Yasuhide Mizuno showcased the Afeela's AI chops by using the "Come on out, Afeela" voice command to summon the vehicle using a mobile app. However, Mizuno clarified that the voice command was only a "tech demo," so it's unclear if it will be a part of the production model.The Afeela has a new-age design that boasts a panoramic screen spanning the width of the dashboard. It also has 40 sensors, including 1 LiDAR, nine radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors, both inside and outside the vehicle. Other notable tech includes a processor with 800 TOPS of computing power and a host of cameras for the L2+ ADAS feature.The Afeela gets an AWD drivetrain, front and rear motors with 180kW outputs, up to 300 miles of EPA-estimated range, a 91kWh lithium-ion battery, and NACS Supercharger connectivity. It will also support Tesla's ever-growing Supercharger network, which includes over 6,000 stations with over 62,000 connectors.Sony showcased its Vision-S smart car concept at CES 2020 as part of its plans to jump on the EV bandwagon. In 2022, the company partnered with Honda to develop a new mobility service platform. According to the two companies, Sony will take care of the imaging, sensing, telecommunication, network, and in-car entertainment, while the manufacturing will be done by Honda.