- Sony Honda Mobility partners with Reviver to create digital license plates
- Customers can change background colors and add text
- The RP plate costs about $900 (about £670 / AU$1,350)
Sony’s first electric vehicle, the Afeela 1, may be one of the longest-running additions to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, as Sony Honda Mobility has since been rolling out new and innovative updates seemingly every year.
According to sources, a pre-production version of the Afeela 1 will be shown in Las Vegas, priced at $89,900 (roughly £67,000/AU$135,000) and will be the first model with a digital license plate.
Sony says it is partnering with tech company Reviver to introduce its RPlate digital license plate, which allows owners to customize items through a custom smartphone app.
However, Sony Honda Mobility hasn’t said whether the app will be integrated into the curved touchscreen that spans the entire width of the Afeela 1’s interior, which makes a lot more sense.
The battery-powered RPlate uses a monochrome HD display that allows the background to switch between black and white, while allowing you to add messages in different fonts to the bottom of the plate.
It can be social media hashtags, slogans or funny phrases. However, there is also no information on whether the use of profanity or other potentially inflammatory content can be considered legal.
Sony Honda Mobility released few details about the partnership, saying only that it “reflects SHMA’s commitment to seamlessly integrate smart, connected technologies into every part of the Afeela experience.”
Sony has big plans
The Sony Afeela 1 made a splash when it debuted at CES 2023, offering the tech giant’s advanced infotainment, a customizable external media bar with dynamic LED display, and cutting-edge autonomous driving technology.
However, we haven’t seen a production model yet, and the $89,900 starting price now seems incredibly high for a vehicle that offers an EPA-estimated range of up to 300 miles on a single charge.
Digital number plates aside, BMW will launch its similarly priced iX3 next year, which is part of its Neue Klasse EV range and is expected to travel more than 800 kilometers on a single charge, with 400kW of fast charging and advanced computing power designed to completely revolutionize the experience of driving large, heavy electric vehicles.
The announcement of the Reviver RPlate appears to be yet another gadget in a vehicle full of technological gimmicks.