LAS VEGAS — Sony said it would start testing self-driving cars as early as this year as the Japanese electronics and entertainment giant accelerates its automotive push.
Sony unveiled the Vision-S electric sedan concept at the CES electronics show here to highlight its mobility technologies.
Sony is aiming to start test rides during the next financial year starting in April to check the performance of its auto- related technologies, a spokesman said. The company has no plans to produce its own cars, he said.
Sony dominates the market for smartphone image sensors, but has been trying to catch up with ON Semiconductor Corp in sensors for automotive applications.
German supplier Benteler Automotive Group announced at the show it is collaborating with Sony on the prototype.
Sony said the Vision-S has 33 sensors for interior and exterior object and human detection and imaging, on-board AI software, cloud technologies and more. The front seats face a panoramic media screen, Sony said.
Benteler announced it will be supplying key components for the prototype but did not specify which ones. Benteler is largely a chassis, exhaust and engine components supplier.
The prototype incorporates components from a number of top-tier suppliers, according to reports.
The prototype vehicle Sony unveiled integrates a variety of technologies for "safety, reliability, comfort and entertainment in the mobility space," Benteler and Sony said in a statement about the partnership.
The companies said that Sony is planning to develop mobility solutions to "open up new business opportunities."
Benteler also exhibited its electric drive system with Bosch at the show, the electric vehicle platform's North American premiere. Bosch and Benteler have been developing the rolling chassis solution for e-mobility over the last several months after their partnership was formalized in April 2019.
According to Benteler, the electric drive system is ready for series production and combines functions such as integrated crash management, flexible and scalable battery storage, and integrated thermal management.
Reuters contributed to this report
