Details
- AWS, Qualcomm Technologies, and Sony Honda Mobility have formed a partnership to accelerate the development of the AFEELA electric vehicle, using AWS cloud infrastructure and Qualcomm AI100 accelerators to significantly reduce design and testing timelines.
- The collaboration focuses on bringing the AFEELA EV to market in 2026 for California, equipping it with 40 sensors that deliver 360-degree awareness and advanced driver assistance systems running on 800 TOPS of computing power.
- Amazon EC2 DL2q instances featuring Qualcomm AI100 accelerators are being used with Snapdragon Ride systems to handle large-scale simulation processing, enabling faster and more efficient validation of autonomous functions such as adaptive cruise, automated parking, and piloted driving.
- AFEELA marks Sony Honda Mobility’s premium EV debut, with the Origin model starting at $89,900, and offers AI-driven personalization through the AFEELA Personal Agent and enhanced in-cabin entertainment features.
- The reliance on cloud-based development lets engineers analyze more driving data than ever, running highly complex simulations for safety and autonomy scenarios that extend beyond traditional road testing capabilities.
Impact
This alliance highlights a shift toward using cloud and AI accelerators in automotive R&D, redefining how EVs are brought to market. By streamlining development, AWS and its partners are setting new pace benchmarks as competition intensifies with established players like Tesla and new entrants from China, potentially reshaping the landscape for next-generation, software-driven vehicles.